Karl-Anthony Towns made a strong return from a one-game absence, delivering 24 points and 15 rebounds as the New York Knicks held off the Toronto Raptors 113-108 on Monday night for their fifth victory in six games.
Towns broke a late tie with a layup in the final 36 seconds before sealing the win with a clutch three-pointer on New York’s next possession.
Mikal Bridges contributed 23 points as the Knicks secured their fifth straight win over the Raptors. OG Anunoby, facing his former team, scored 14 points, while Josh Hart added 10. Jalen Brunson finished with 20 points and 11 assists.
The Raptors suffered a setback when Scottie Barnes exited midway through the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. Unable to put weight on his foot, Barnes was helped to the locker room after landing awkwardly while battling for a rebound.
Barnes, who had previously missed 11 games this season due to a right orbital fracture, had scored 15 points in 23 minutes before his departure.
RJ Barrett led Toronto with 30 points, while Jakob Poeltl recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Rookie Ja’Kobe Walter provided a spark with 19 points, including 14 in the first half.
Takeaways
Knicks: Towns returned to action after missing Saturday’s loss to Detroit with a sore right knee. Guard Cam Payne (left elbow) also rejoined the lineup.
Raptors: Walter matched his career high with 14 first-half points, finishing with 19 overall.
Key Moment
Barnes went down with 6:47 left in the third quarter after landing on Towns while fighting for a defensive rebound. His absence significantly impacted Toronto’s momentum.
Key Stat
Towns had struggled from deep, making just one of his first four three-point attempts before hitting the game-sealing triple with six seconds remaining.
Up Next
The Knicks host Atlanta in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday, while the Raptors head to Miami for a Thursday night matchup against the Heat.
