Knicks Roll Past Raptors to Reach NBA Cup Semifinals
So this matchup between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors turned into a statement win for New York, and honestly, it felt like the game shifted before anyone had time to settle in. Jalen Brunson came out absolutely locked in, scoring the first basket of the night and never really cooling off. By the time the game wrapped up, he had dropped 35 points on incredibly efficient shooting, and it was clear he was in complete control from start to finish.
The Knicks, who had never made it past the NBA Cup quarterfinals before, finally broke through with this 117–101 victory. And what made it even more impressive was how balanced they looked. Josh Hart chipped in 21 points and brought that trademark energy, while Karl-Anthony Towns anchored things in the paint with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Even Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby stepped up with steady contributions. It felt like a full-team performance, the kind that shows why New York has been quietly building momentum this season.
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But the real turning point of the night was the second quarter. Toronto actually started the game well—Brandon Ingram was on fire early, scoring 17 in the first quarter alone and finishing with 31. He was easily the Raptors’ brightest spot. But once the second quarter began, everything just fell apart for them. Shots stopped falling, ball movement stalled, and suddenly they couldn’t buy a bucket. They missed 13 of their first 15 attempts in that quarter and were outscored 34–13. By halftime, the Knicks were up 69–52, and the tone of the game had completely flipped.
It didn’t help Toronto that they were shorthanded again. Immanuel Quickley was out with an illness, and RJ Barrett missed his ninth straight game with that lingering knee sprain. Without their usual depth and scoring punch, the Raptors simply couldn’t keep up once New York ramped up the intensity. And recently, the trend hasn’t been kind to them—after starting the season 15–5 and going undefeated in Cup group play, they’ve now dropped six of their last seven.
Meanwhile, the Knicks didn’t just win—they dominated key areas. Their rebounding was huge, especially on the offensive glass, where they kept generating second chances. Six of their eight first-half offensive boards came late in the second quarter, right when they blew the game open. It was the type of gritty, physical play that tends to separate veteran teams from young ones in high-pressure moments.
Now, New York moves on to face Orlando in Las Vegas for a spot in the NBA Cup final. They’ve already played the Magic three times this season, and Orlando holds the edge in those matchups, so it should be a tough one. But with the way the Knicks played tonight, especially on both ends of the floor, they’ll head into that semifinal with real confidence.
Toronto, meanwhile, will have some time to regroup before their next game in Miami. And with key players expected back soon, they’ll be hoping this rough stretch doesn’t define what started as a promising season.
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