The Raptors didn't disappoint the home crowd in their 1st game at Air Canada Centre in 10 days, coming away with a 115-100 victory over the New York Knicks. This was the 2nd of a back-to-back/home & home set for the Raptors and Knicks.
Toronto had 3 players with 20+ points in the game! Kyle Lowry had a near triple double scoring 32 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds, Terrence Ross posted 23 points (including 7 three pointers!), and DeMar DeRozan had 20.
Jonas Valanciunas was in foul trouble at various points in the game which kept him off the floor. He had 10 rebounds, and added 8 points. Amir Johnson was very active, also scoring 8 points, but he had 4 blocks to go along with his 8 rebounds.
The Raptors were up as many as 21 points, and the Knicks cut the Raptors lead to 6 late in the 4th quarter. But after a Flagrant 1 foul was assessed to the Knicks' Toure Murry, Kyle Lowry then made both free throws, and proceeded to make a 3 pointer on the awarded posession – extending the Raptors lead to 11 points, and they didn't look back.
It was essentially a MASH Unit on the floor for the Knicks who were without the services of Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton, Pablo Prigioni, and Metta World Peace due to a variety of injuries. That said, the Knicks do have a fairly deep team as JR Smith, Andrea Bargnani, Tyson Chandler, Amare Stoudemire, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Iman Shumpert all played.
Up next, the Raptors will face the Chicago Bulls on New Year's Eve in Chicago, and then travel back to Toronto to face the League leading Indiana Pacers on New Year's Day!
(Photo Credit: NBAE/Getty Images)
Postgame Interviews:
DeMar DeRozan:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
e96t0LAjJCA[/youtube]
Kyle Lowry:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
RainG_rQlNc[/youtube]
Dwane Casey:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=
hdPqzF_HjIU[/youtube]
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