Achi news desk-
TORONTO – Miles McBride scored 29 points and had seven assists as the New York Knicks cruised to a convincing 145-101 victory over the undermanned Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.
Jalen Brunson had 26 points and seven assists as New York (44-28) won its third straight. Former Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa had a double-double off the bench for 19 points and 13 boards as six Knicks reached double figures in scoring.
Rookie forward Gradey Dick scored a career-high 23 points as the Raptors (23-50) dropped their 12th straight game.
Center Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops, BC, had 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a game in which Toronto never led.
The 44-point margin was Toronto’s worst home loss in franchise history, topping a 41-point margin in a 139-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 5.
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The already depleted Raptors lost guard Ochai Agbaji to injury early in the game.
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Agbaji was injured within the first six minutes of the game, trying to convert an alley-oop pass from Olynyk. The 23-year-old guard missed the dunk and fell hard on his tailbone, immediately putting his hand on his lower back and writhing on the floor in obvious pain.
He had to be helped to the locker room and did not return to the game with a right hip contusion.
Agbaji’s injury adds to an already lengthy inactive list in Toronto.
all-star forward Scottie Barnes (left hand fracture), center Jakob Poeltl (left hand torn ligament), swingman RJ Barrett (personal reasons), point guard Immanuel Quickley (personal reasons), forward Chris Boucher (partial MCL tear), guard D.J. Carton (sprained right ankle) and Jontay Porter (personal reasons) were already out.
McBride dominated play in the first quarter, scoring 18 points and dishing out three assists in that period alone. The Knicks led by as many as 17 points, building a 45-33 lead to open the game.
New York finished the second quarter on a 9-4 run, holding an 80-59 lead at the break.
The Knicks didn’t let up when play resumed in the third. Brunson scored nine of his points in the quarter as New York outscored Toronto 31-21 in the period to take a 111-80 lead into the fourth.
A 15-0 Knicks run midway through the fourth sent most of the 19,133 fans at Scotiabank Arena to the exits early.
ANNUNOBY & ACHIUWA – OG Anunoby and Achiuwa were honored with video tributes in the first quarter. Toronto traded the pair on Dec. 30 to the Knicks for Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., and Quickley. Only Achiuwa played on Wednesday. Anunoby was recovering from elbow surgery and Barrett and Quickley were sidelined for personal reasons.
UP NEXT
The Raptors continue their homestand on Sunday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Friday night.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on March 27, 2024.
& copy 2024 The Canadian Press
