Karl-Anthony Towns’ dominant performance of 31 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists, combined with OG Anunoby’s impressive 31-point outing on 13-of-15 shooting from the field, propelled the New York Knicks to a 139-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Cam Payne contributed 19 points off the bench for the Knicks, showcasing the team’s depth with seven players reaching double figures as they secured their fourth consecutive win. Mikal Bridges added 14 points, while Jalen Brunson chipped in with 12 points and seven assists.
On the opposing side, Scottie Barnes tallied 24 points and dished out eight assists, while RJ Barrett contributed 23 points for the struggling Toronto Raptors (7-23), who suffered their eighth consecutive loss.
Toronto continued to struggle defensively, allowing the Knicks to score over 110 points for the 10th time in their last 11 games, resulting in a dismal 1-13 road record for the season. New York capitalized on their exceptional depth, shooting an impressive 59% from the field despite an off night for Brunson, who went 4-of-13 from the field and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc. The Knicks managed to score 70 points in the first half, even with Brunson’s limited output.
The turning point in the game came in the second quarter when the Knicks surged ahead, led by Payne’s two 3-pointers and 11 points in the period. Inspired by Payne’s energy, New York outscored Toronto 40-24 in the second quarter, transforming a narrow 32-30 deficit into a commanding 18-point halftime lead.
Towns, the league leader in rebounding, extended his streak of double-doubles to 18 consecutive games before fouling out in the fourth quarter. With 25 double-doubles on the season, Towns trails only Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings in this statistical category.
Looking ahead, the Knicks are set to host the San Antonio Spurs in the opening game of the Christmas Day schedule, while Toronto will travel to Memphis to face the Grizzlies on Thursday.
