The New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-101 on the road in the NBA Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday night, advancing to the semifinals for the first time. Jalen Brunson led the way with 35 points, including 26 in the first half. The win improves the Knicks to 17-7, placing them second in the Eastern Conference.
The New York Knicks surged past the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Cup quarterfinals, securing a 117-101 victory on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. This marks the Knicks' first trip to the semifinals in the event's three-year history, despite reaching the quarterfinals each year. New York, playing on the road, trailed 39-35 after the first quarter but dominated the second with a 34-13 run to take control.
Jalen Brunson was the standout performer, scoring 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 6-of-9 from three-point range. He tallied 20 points in the first quarter and 26 in the first half, marking his 87th 30-plus point game as a Knick, tying Richie Guerin for third in franchise history. Brunson also added four assists.
Josh Hart contributed 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, along with six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Karl-Anthony Towns recorded a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, plus two blocks, bringing his season total to 17 double-doubles. Mikal Bridges scored 15 points, and OG Anunoby added 13, as the Knicks' starting five combined for 98 points—nearly matching Toronto's total output.
For the Raptors, Brandon Ingram led with 31 points, six rebounds, and six assists, including 17 in the first quarter. Despite the early lead, Toronto could not keep pace with New York's offensive efficiency.
The Knicks have now won eight of their last nine games, six by double digits, boasting a 121.7 offensive rating that ranks third in the league. Defensively, they rank 14th with a 113.5 rating, allowing 40 threes per game. Both Mitchell Robinson and OG Anunoby are now healthy after extended absences.
Next, New York faces the Orlando Magic in the East semifinals on Saturday in Las Vegas, with a spot in the championship on December 16 at stake. "Winning every possession," Hart said. "If you do that, you’ll get to the end goal … but we’ve got to make sure we take care of what’s in front of us."
