Jalen Brunson (35) and Josh Hart (21) combined for 56 points as the New York Knicks punched their ticket to the NBA Cup semifinals with a 117–101 win over the slumping Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
Karl-Anthony Towns returned from a calf issue to post 14 points and 16 rebounds, helping New York advance to the semifinal round for the first time in three tournament appearances. The Knicks will face the Orlando Magic on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Mikal Bridges scored 15 points and OG Anunoby added 13 against his former team as the Knicks improved to 11–4 all-time in NBA Cup play. Brunson set the tone early, dropping 26 points in the first half, his highest-scoring half of the season, as New York built a 69–52 lead at the break.
Toronto, meanwhile, continued its cold stretch. Brandon Ingram scored 31 points and Jamal Shead added a career-high 18, but the Raptors lost their fourth straight, all at home. After going unbeaten in group play during a 13–1 stretch, Toronto has now slipped to 1–6 in its last seven. The Raptors unraveled in the second quarter, shooting just 5-for-21 while being outscored 34–13 after Ingram opened the game with 17 in the first.
Scottie Barnes and Ja’Kobe Walter scored 13 apiece for Toronto, and Jakob Poeltl added 10. The Raptors were also without former Knicks RJ Barrett (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (illness).
Up Next
*Knicks: Face the Orlando Magic on Saturday in Las Vegas in the NBA Cup semifinals.
Raptors: Visit the Miami Heat on Monday.*
