Brunson’s dagger secures Knicks’ 121-115 win over Raptors in thrilling finish

It was another nail-biting finish for the New York Knicks, but Jalen Brunson once again proved why he’s the team’s go-to guy when the game is on the line. With 26.1 seconds left and the Knicks holding a narrow 118-115 lead, Brunson sank a clutch three-pointer that stunned the Toronto Raptors and ultimately sealed the game, 121-115.

Brunson finished with 28 points, and Karl-Anthony Towns dominated on both ends of the floor with a monster 27-point, 20-rebound performance. However, this win was far from easy. The Knicks had to weather a storm after squandering a 108-92 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Raptors mounted a 19-4 run that cut the Knicks’ lead down to just one point with 3:17 remaining.

Earlier in the game, the Knicks had controlled the tempo, dominating the Raptors in the second quarter by outscoring them 38-17. At one point, New York held a 23-point advantage in the third, looking like they were cruising to an easy win. But the Raptors fought back hard, making the final moments anything but certain.

“They fought back. They hit shots, too, when they had to hit shots, so credit to them. Shout-out to our team. Again, just finding a way to win and fighting through all the adversity.”

– Karl-Anthony Towns

Precious Achiuwa stepped up in the absence of OG Anunoby, who was sidelined with a sprained foot, and had a solid outing against his former team, scoring 17 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and recording 3 steals and 2 blocks. Mikal Bridges also added 17 points, while Josh Hart contributed 15 points, continuing his all-around solid play.

Ariel Hukporti received extended play time in this one, logging 19 minutes and finishing with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 assists. His performance was a significant improvement from the previous game against the Rockets, where his +/- was -14. Last night, he posted a +8, showing his positive impact on the court.

The Raptors had their share of struggles, especially with key injuries. They were without RJ Barrett, who was injured in Sunday’s game against the Clippers, and Jakob Poeltl also went down with a right hip injury at halftime. Despite those absences, the Raptors kept fighting, with Scottie Barnes leading the way with 23 points, and Jamal Shear providing a spark off the bench with 16 points.

While the Raptors outpaced the Knicks in field goal percentage, three-pointers, free throws, assists, and fast-break points, New York’s dominance in the paint proved to be the difference. The Knicks outscored the Raptors 62-56 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 43-34. This victory marked the Knicks’ 8th straight win over the Raptors.

Up-next: Knicks (34-17) are hosting the Celtics (36-15) on Saturday from 8:30pm.