Raptors at Knicks
Toronto and New York made preseason headlines with a blockbuster trade that was designed to help the Raptors build toward the future while giving the Knicks a shot at upending Indiana and Miami. More than five months later, the Raptors are Atlantic Division champions while the Knicks prepare for a long offseason. Toronto looks for its franchise-best 49th victory Wednesday as it wraps up its regular-season schedule with a game at Madison Square Garden.
The Raptors dealt former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani to the Knicks prior to the start of the season, and made another megadeal in December — shipping Rudy Gay to Sacramento — after opening the season with a thud. Since then, Toronto has boasted the best record in the Eastern Conference en route to its first playoff appearance in six years. New York had high hopes for the campaign, but injuries and poor play have the Knicks outside the playoff picture.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, SNET (Toronto), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (48-33): Toronto won't know its first-round opponent until after it finishes playing the Knicks — and three teams remain in the mix. The Raptors will either face the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards or Charlotte Bobcats in Round 1, depending on the outcomes of their respective games. Regardless of what happens, Toronto will have home-court advantage for at least the opening round of the postseason as it looks for just its second playoff series victory in franchise history.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (36-45): New York is already looking ahead to the coming offseason, when new team president Phil Jackson will have several critical decisions to make about the direction of the team. Among them: what to do with superstar forward Carmelo Anthony, who will miss the season finale after being diagnosed with a slight labrum tear in his right shoulder. Anthony, who averaged 27.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, is under contract through next season but has an early-termination clause in his deal and hasn't decided whether he will exercise it.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Toronto leads the season series 2-1 but dropped the most recent meeting 108-100 on Friday.
2. Bargnani, who hasn't played since tearing a ligament in his elbow Jan. 22, averaged 13.3 points in 42 games with the Knicks.
3. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey hasn't said whether he will rest any of his starters.