Raptors at Knicks
The New York Knicks clinched a playoff spot in the first game of a back-to-back against Toronto and continue their chase of the second-place Indiana Pacers when they host the Raptors on Saturday. New York posted a 99-94 victory in Toronto on Friday and remain one game behind Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Raptors have lost 10 of 13 games and could be without forward Rudy Gay due to a back ailment.
The Raptors have lost three straight games and are 9-25 on the road. Toronto is still mathematically alive in the East but stands 8 1/2 games behind the eighth-place Milwaukee Bucks with only 13 games remaining. New York is part of the playoff field for the third straight season and also is trying to fight off the Brooklyn Nets for the Atlantic Division title. The Knicks have a 1 1/2-game lead over the Nets and have won three straight games.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (26-43): Gay had four points in 14-plus minutes on Friday before exiting when the back woes surfaced. Gay’s absence opened the door for Alan Anderson to score a career-best 35 points. Anderson matched the franchise record with 20 points in the third quarter and was 6-of-11 from 3-point range. The splendid scoring outing didn’t satisfy Anderson. “It feels really good personally but when you can’t get the win, you wish you did a little bit more,” Anderson said. Gay’s status is unclear and that could mean significant playing time for Anderson, who also had a 26-point outing against the Knicks on Feb. 13.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (41-26): Forward Carmelo Anthony had 37 points on Friday and is averaging 29 points in two games after missing six of the previous eight contests due to a knee injury. Anthony played 43 minutes in Toronto so the effects could be evident in the rematch. “I want that challenge,” Anthony said afterward. “I wanted to see what I could do, especially being out and not playing the way I know how to play.” New York received a huge boost from center Kenyon Martin, who scored 19 points on 9-of-10 shooting and grabbed 11 rebounds. Martin is receiving significant playing time with starting center Tyson Chandler out and is 18-of-22 shooting over the past three games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. New York snapped a three-game losing streak against the Raptors with Friday’s victory.
2. Chandler (back) will miss his sixth consecutive game.
3. Raptors G DeMar DeRozan had 18 points on Friday and is averaging 18.7 in this season’s three games against the Knicks.