Anunoby and Towns shine as Knicks surge past Raptors, 139-125

OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns put on a show at Madison Square Garden, combining for 62 points as the Knicks dismantled the Toronto Raptors, 139-125. Anunoby, facing his former team, delivered one of his most efficient performances to date, scoring 31 points on an incredible 13-of-15 shooting. He made his first 11 field goal attempts, sending the home crowd into a frenzy with each basket. When his streak finally ended late in the third quarter, even OG couldn’t help but smile, basking in the moment.

Anunoby was lights out from inside the arc, missing only a pair of three-point attempts. The Garden erupted after his 11th consecutive make, a three-pointer that gave the Knicks a commanding 99-70 lead late in the third.

Towns matched OG’s scoring total with 31 points of his own, adding 10 rebounds and 7 assists. His all-around dominance paired perfectly with Anunoby’s efficiency as the Knicks overwhelmed the Raptors with a relentless offensive attack.

The game’s turning point came in the second and third quarters, where the Knicks outscored Toronto 40-24 and 41-30, respectively. As noted by Mike Breen during ther MSG broadcast, the Knicks hadn’t recorded multiple 40-point quarters in a game since 1988. They headed into halftime with a 70-52 lead, despite Jalen Brunson being uncharacteristically quiet. Brunson went scoreless from the field in the first half, managing just three points from the free-throw line. He rebounded slightly in the second half, finishing with 12 points on four made baskets.

The Knicks’ bench also played a significant role, combining for 50 points. Cameron Payne and Miles McBride contributed 31 of those, with Payne’s 19 points punctuated by an 11-point burst in just six-and-a-half minutes during the second quarter. Payne’s three-pointer early in the fourth quarter, off a McBride assist, extended the Knicks’ lead to its largest margin, 120-87. McBride finished with 12 points and 5 assists, continuing his strong run of form.

“It’s kind of our jobs, kind of the things we do every time. We bring pace, we bring energy, and it’s a different kind of game when we get out there.”

– Cameron Payne

In the final moments, the spotlight shifted to Landry Shamet, who played his first official game for the Knicks after recovering from a preseason shoulder injury. Shamet’s story came full circle when he re-signed with the team the day before the game, following a lengthy rehab. The 27-year-old checked in during the final 90 seconds and managed to score his first bucket, assisted by Tyler Kolek.

The Knicks’ offense was unstoppable, logging 34 assists and shooting an impressive 59.3% from the field. They dominated in the paint with a 62-48 scoring advantage and overwhelmed the Raptors with their ball movement and depth.

For Toronto, Scottie Barnes led the way with 24 points, while former Knick RJ Barrett had 23 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists on a solid 7-of-13 shooting performance. Gradey Dick, Chris Boucher, and Ja’Kobe Walter each added 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to match the Knicks’ firepower.

Up-Next: The Knicks (19-10) will host the San Antonio Spurs (15-14) on Christmas Day from 12:00 PM ET