Knicks and Raptors Clash in High-Stakes NBA Cup Showdown
So here’s what’s happening tonight in Toronto — and it’s a big one. The Raptors, one of the real surprise stories of the season, are hosting the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. It’s kind of wild when you think about where Toronto was just a year ago. They won only 25 games last season, but now they’ve stormed out to a 15-10 record and absolutely crushed their NBA Cup group at 4-0, with a dominant +55 point differential. That’s the third-best mark in the entire league, so their confidence has every reason to be sky-high.
But the challenge in front of them couldn’t be tougher. The Knicks arrive at 16-7, holding the best overall record among Eastern Conference teams in the NBA Cup bracket. And to make things even more interesting, New York just got OG Anunoby back from a hamstring issue. This matchup becomes a little personal for him, since he’s facing his former team — and, fun fact, he’s never lost to Toronto since joining the Knicks, sitting on a 4-0 record. That storyline alone gives the night an extra spark.
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The winner of this game moves on to face Orlando in the semifinals. The Magic already clinched their spot after taking down the Heat, so both Toronto and New York know exactly what awaits on the other side.
When the game tipped off, New York came out firing, hitting its first four shots. But turnovers quickly opened the door, and Toronto responded with a 7-0 run to jump ahead 15-11. It felt like one of those classic momentum-swing starts — both teams testing each other, both looking ready to dictate the tempo. And with lineups like these, nobody expected anything less. New York rolled with Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Karl-Anthony Towns — though Towns was a game-time decision because of left calf tightness. Toronto countered with Jamal Shead, Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl, while still missing RJ Barrett due to a knee sprain.
The atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena was already intense before the ball even went up. Tipoff was set for 8:30 p.m. ET, and the place filled fast. Fans knew that Toronto’s nine-game losing streak to the Knicks was hanging over this matchup, but their strong Cup performance created a real sense that tonight might be different.
The stakes feel higher than a normal regular-season night — and that’s the beauty of the NBA Cup. You’ve got hot teams colliding, stars fighting through injuries, and storylines intertwining everywhere. Whether it’s Brunson pushing to carry New York forward or Ingram leading the way for Toronto, everything points to a dramatic finish.
And honestly, that’s exactly what makes this tournament so fun: anything can happen, and every possession feels like it matters just a little more than usual.
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