Karl-Anthony Towns returned from a sore knee to deliver a pivotal double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds, leading the New York Knicks to a gritty 113-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday. The Knicks, gearing up for the NBA Cup quarter-finals, showed resilience in a game marked by 19 lead changes and a dramatic finish.
With the game tied at 108-108 following a late layup by former Knick RJ Barrett, Towns stepped up in the final seconds. He converted a driving layup after a feed from Jalen Brunson and then sealed the win with a clutch three-pointer with 6.3 seconds remaining, assisted by a key block from OG Anunoby.
- Mikal Bridges: 23 points
- Jalen Brunson: 20 points, 11 assists
- OG Anunoby: 14 points in his Toronto homecoming
Raptors’ Efforts Fall Short
Barrett led the Raptors with 30 points, while rookie Ja’Kobe Walter notched a career-high 19 points. Scottie Barnes added 15 points but exited in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle after a collision with Towns. The injury adds to Barnes’ tough season, which already saw him miss 11 games with a fractured orbital bone.
NBA Cup Quarter-Final Schedule
The NBA Cup knockout stage begins Tuesday, culminating in the final on December 17 in Las Vegas:
- Tuesday:
- Milwaukee Bucks vs. Orlando Magic
- Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Dallas Mavericks
- Wednesday:
- New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks
- Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
The Knicks, winners of 10 of their last 13 games, will face the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden in a bid to advance to the semi-finals.
Towns’ return and leadership, alongside Brunson and Bridges’ consistency, make the Knicks strong contenders in this inaugural NBA Cup competition.
