Recent York Knicks guard Miles McBride (2) protects the ball from Toronto Raptors guard Kobi Simmons in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
TORONTO— Miles McBride matched a career-high with 29 points, Jalen Brunson had 26 and Recent York never trailed in a 145-101 win over the slumping Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, the Knicks’ biggest margin of victory this NBA season.
Precious Achiuwa had 19 points and 12 rebounds against his former team because the Knicks won for the seventh time in eight games, set a season-high for points and swept the four-game season series with Toronto.
Knicks center Mitchell Robinson played for the primary time since suffering a left ankle injury that sidelined him for 50 games. The 7-footer had not played since he was injured in a Dec. 8 loss at Boston, later undergoing surgery.
READ: NBA: DiVincenzo makes franchise-record 11 3s, Knicks rout Pistons
Deuce McBride knocks down 3 threes within the opening minutes to proceed his strong play of late 🔥
Knicks-Raptors | Live to tell the tale the NBA App
📲 https://t.co/xQzvpfzXwU pic.twitter.com/0kz6ylFxFG— NBA (@NBA) March 27, 2024
Robinson got here off the bench and scored eight points.
“You never know what to anticipate however it’s an excellent baseline for us,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “I liked the way in which he moved. He’ll improve and higher every day.”
Robinson had two rebounds and blocked two shots, swatting away his first lower than a minute after checking in.
“Not less than my defense is sort of there,” Robinson said. “I’ve still got slightly bit to work on with that.”
Recent York guard Donte DiVincenzo said he liked what he saw from Robinson.
READ: NBA: Brunson posts one other 40-point game, leads Knicks past Kings
“It was great simply to have him on the market, simply to have him glad,” DiVincenzo said. “Just his spirit, it truly is contagious for us, not to say what he brings on the defensive end.”
Gradey Dick scored a career-high 23 points for Toronto and Gary Trent Jr. had 18 however the short-handed Raptors lost their twelfth in a row and fell to 1-13 against Atlantic Division opponents.
Recent York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson, center, is fouled by Toronto Raptors forward Garrett Temple, right, as Raptors forward Jalen McDaniels (2) defends in the course of the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 27, 2024, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
“Our focus was not where it must be and that’s an area where we will improve,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said.
The 44-point margin was Toronto’s biggest home defeat in franchise history, eclipsing a 41-point loss to Recent Orleans on March 5.
McBride, who scored 18 in the primary quarter, matched a Knicks record by making six 3-pointers within the period. Recent York finished with a season-high 22 3-pointers.
Brunson scored 11 points within the second because the Knicks took an 80-59 halftime lead. The 80 points was probably the most the team has scored in a half this season.
Former Raptor OG Anunoby was not available in his return to Toronto due to the correct elbow injury that has kept him out of twenty-two of the past 25 games.
Knicks guard Alec Burks sat for the second straight game due to a sprained right shoulder.
Toronto guard Ochai Agbaji landed heavily on his right hip as he and McBride went up for a lob pass toward Recent York’s basket midway through the primary. Agbaji was helped to the locker room, unable to place weight on his right leg. He didn’t return and the Raptors said he suffered a right hip contusion.
Rajakovic said X-rays didn’t reveal a fracture and that Agbaji can be evaluated again before Sunday’s home game against Philadelphia.
“For a second it was really scary because he couldn’t move in any respect,” Rajakovic said.
Toronto was already without starters and former Knicks RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, who’re still in return-to-competition reconditioning, in addition to injured starters Scottie Barnes (left hand) and Jakob Poeltl (left pinkie).
Raptors center Jontay Porter, who’s being investigated by the NBA for alleged gambling, missed his third straight game.
NEXT NBA SCHEDULE
Knicks: Visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.
Raptors: Host the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday night.
