Starters play well but Raptors fall to Knicks in second-last exhibition

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Thursday brought a far more normal pre-season game between the Raptors and New York Knicks. After a 50-point Toronto win two days earlier at home, the teams squared off again in Manhattan, this time with the Knicks playing much closer to a regular lineup.

Toronto’s starters outplayed New York’s in this one, but the home side still managed to pull out a tight victory 122-120, with things coming right down to the wire in a wild, almost comical finish that include the Knicks gifting the Raptors a chance to win or tie after backcourt violation. Two missed Raptors shots meant New York’s first victory since winning the title, albeit this one was of slightly less importance.

The Raptors decided to start Kawhi Leonard on Thursday instead of in Friday’s pre-season finale at Detroit, choosing to give him one fewer day of rest after his debut Tuesday. New York had rested most of its rotation Tuesday after most Knicks played in Monday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This time the only starter out was Josh Hart.

The Knicks have now gotten a good look at two of the NBA’s biggest off-season acquisitions this week. First it was Minnesota’s LaMelo Ball and then a double dose of Leonard. Leonard had scorched the reserves Tuesday, but wasn’t in sync either with his game or his new teammates, scoring only six points in 23 minutes. Even at far less than full force, Leonard was still +8, with the Raptors finding success with him on the court with the other starters, and in the second half, with Collin Murray-Boyles in for Jakob Poeltl. Expect to see a lot of that combination late in games.

Scottie Barnes was excellent, scoring a game-high 23 points, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each lit up their former team, but Toronto’s reserves struggled against New York’s first unit.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 15 rebounds in 29 minutes, along with 13 points and nine assists. Jalen Brunson scored 20 points.

It will be interesting to see if the reigning champion Knicks can stay near the top of the league or take a step back with key backup Mitchell Robinson off to Boston due to cost-cutting and the potential distractions surrounding the team’s refusal to talk contract extension with star centre Towns, fellow starter Hart or others.

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Shooting stars

Barnes began the game hitting shot after shot from the mid-range. In the past there have been times where he’s been solid from there, others where he’s tried to shoot a lot of three-pointers and stay out of the mid-range. Last year Brandon Ingram loved those types of shots, but Leonard much prefers to step further back and launch three-pointers (though he remains as lethal as anyone in the mid-range).

Collin Murray-Boyles continued his revelatory pre-season shooting in the first half. If his three-point expansion is real, he and the Raptors will be in a far better place than anyone expected.

Around the rim

After being injured and later a healthy scratch, sharp-shooter Jamison Battle made his pre-season debut. Battle, who had some big moments in the playoff series against Cleveland, is in a fight for a deep rotation spot with the likes of veteran Kyle Anderson and rookie Allen Graves. Battle and Anderson were part of a group, led by point guard Jamal Shead, that turned in a really good shift late in the first half to get the Raptors back into a game that appeared to be going one-sided toward the Knicks. Instead it was 63-58 for the champs.

Battle and Murray-Barnes were the only Raptors reserves who had anything going offensively. Anderson had a minimal impact while Graves didn’t play (likely because a back-to-back isn’t advisable for him right now since he’s coming off a groin injury).