Raptors at Knicks
The Toronto Raptors are getting themselves ready for the postseason and trying to balance rest with staying sharp. The Raptors will continue the process while looking for a fourth win in six games when they visit the NBA-worst New York Knicks on Thursday.
Toronto appears to be locked into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference and used Tuesday's matchup against the already-eliminated Chicago Bulls to expand the rotation and give the starters some extra rest. No starter logged more than All-Star Kawhi Leonard's 22 minutes while six reserves played at least 17 and three scored in double figures in the 112-103 home victory. The Knicks are in the process of locking up the worst record in the NBA and saw their latest slide reach four straight with a 124-113 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at home on Sunday. That losing streak began at Toronto on March 18, when New York allowed the Raptors to shoot 55.7 percent from the floor in a 128-92 drubbing.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SN1/E (Toronto), MSG (New York)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (52-23): Reserve small forward Norm Powell took advantage of the extra playing time on Tuesday and scored a team-high 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 26 minutes. "I'm not out there thinking, 'oh I've got to play well so I can play in the playoffs,'" Powell told reporters. "You just go out and play the game you've been playing all your life. Take what the defense is giving me, getting to my spots, living with the results, playing off my teammates, playing the right way. That's mainly what's going to help me and everything else will fall where it should." Serge Ibaka, who is splitting time with Marc Gasol at the center spot, added 16 points and eight rebounds in the win.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (14-60): New York is trying to develop its young players despite a rash of injuries, and coach David Fizdale is seeing improvement. "Things are starting to slow down for them," Fizdale told reporters. "We're starting to get to a point where we're consistently moving the ball. We have a mark of 300 passes for games. We're starting to hit that mark more often. We have seen slippage in some areas - turning the ball over, transition defense. But I've been really happy with the overall growth of guys." Second-year point guard Frank Ntilikina is struggling to find opportunities to grow in Fizdale's system while battling injury and could be done for the season after aggravating a groin injury in Sunday's setback.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Knicks SF Kevin Knox (ankle) left Sunday's game but practiced on Tuesday and could play against Toronto.
2. Raptors PG Kyle Lowry (ankle) is 8-of-14 from the floor in two games since returning to the lineup.
3. Toronto took the first three meetings this season by an average of 19 points.