Knicks Dominate Raptors With Explosive Second-Half Comeback

The New York Knicks stormed into Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night and left Toronto with a statement victory, toppling the Raptors 119-92 in a game that saw the visitors erase an early double-digit deficit with a relentless second-half surge. In front of a lively Canadian crowd, the Knicks delivered their fourth consecutive win, a feat that seemed improbable just a few weeks ago when the team was mired in a stretch of nine losses in eleven games. But oh, how quickly fortunes can change in the NBA!

Coming into the matchup, both squads were riding high. The Raptors, sitting at 29-19, had rattled off four straight wins, including a gritty 103-101 road triumph over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Immanuel Quickley had led that charge with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Scottie Barnes nearly posted a triple-double. The Knicks, at 28-18, had found their rhythm as well, notching three straight victories after a rough patch. Their most recent win before arriving in Toronto was a convincing 103-87 decision over the Sacramento Kings, powered by Jalen Brunson’s 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns’ 17 points and 11 boards.

But Wednesday’s clash promised to be a different beast. Toronto was favored by 1.5 points, according to the betting odds, and the game was broadcast on MSG and SportsNet, with streaming available on Fubo. Both teams were missing key pieces: the Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl was sidelined with a back issue, while the Knicks were without Mitchell Robinson and Miles McBride due to injuries and load management. Josh Hart was questionable but ultimately did not play, leaving Mike Brown’s rotation in a bit of flux.

The opening half saw Toronto come out swinging, pressing the Knicks and building a 12-point lead with aggressive play on both ends. Brandon Ingram, acquired by the Raptors in a midseason deal, attacked the rim early, challenging Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. But while the Raptors’ offense hummed, the Knicks refused to fold. OG Anunoby, returning to Toronto for the first time since his trade, made his presence felt immediately, both defensively and on the scoreboard.

Still, it was the third quarter where everything changed. The Knicks unleashed a jaw-dropping 25-4 run, flipping the deficit into a comfortable lead and leaving the home crowd stunned. That run eventually ballooned to a 47-19 stretch as New York outscored Toronto 72-41 from the third quarter onward. The Raptors simply couldn’t keep up with the Knicks’ energy, defensive intensity, and hot shooting.

“Just staying with it man, they came out going fast and pressuring us and we didn’t let that bother us,” Mikal Bridges said after the game. “We stuck with it.” Bridges was the star of the night, shaking off a cold January with a blistering 12-of-15 shooting performance, racking up 30 points. He was everywhere—knocking down threes, slashing to the basket, and locking in on defense. “Once you get them legs going, and that competitive spirit comes out, we felt like they tried to punk us a little bit,” Bridges added. “And it kinda pissed us off. And we went from there.”

OG Anunoby, meanwhile, played his best game since joining the Knicks, pouring in 26 points, grabbing six steals, and dishing out five assists. He was a force on both ends, and his teammates seemed to feed off his energy, especially in his first game back in Toronto since the trade. “A lot. I think a lot of it comes from not just shooting the ball, but I wasn’t playing how I wasn’t supposed to be playing. I wasn’t coachable enough,” Bridges reflected in his post-game walk-off interview, speaking to his recent improvement. “I don’t know what it was. Maybe I felt too much entitlement but I had to just talk to myself about it and be coachable, be the best teammate I can be and let the basketball speak for itself.”

Jalen Brunson, battling through an illness, wasn’t at his usual scoring best. He finished with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting and struggled to find his rhythm against a versatile Raptors defense. Karl-Anthony Towns, though dominant on the glass with 22 rebounds, managed just eight points, hitting only three of his eleven shot attempts. But on this night, the Knicks’ depth and adaptability shone through. Second-year guard Tyler Kolek stepped up in a big way, logging 19 minutes and contributing five points and ten rebounds, helping to stabilize the rotation with Robinson and McBride out.

For the Raptors, the loss snapped their four-game winning streak and exposed some cracks in their armor. Despite averaging 114 points per game (just 0.9 more than the Knicks allow), Toronto couldn’t keep pace with New York’s offensive onslaught in the second half. The Knicks, who average 117.5 points per game, showed why they’re one of the league’s most potent attacks when firing on all cylinders. The Raptors’ defense, which typically surrenders only 111.9 points per contest, simply had no answers once the Knicks found their groove.

Injury woes continue to be a storyline for both teams. Toronto was missing Poeltl and had Collin Murray-Boyles listed as questionable with a thumb issue. The Knicks’ injury list included not just Robinson and McBride but also Hart, who has been a valuable contributor off the bench. Yet, the resilience of both squads has been on display throughout the season, and Wednesday’s game was no exception—at least until the Knicks’ third-quarter explosion.

The victory marks a significant turning point for New York. After a brutal stretch where they dropped nine of eleven, the Knicks now find themselves on a four-game winning streak, surging up the Eastern Conference standings and reigniting hopes of a deep playoff run. The rotation is evolving under head coach Mike Brown, with different players stepping up on different nights—a testament to the team’s depth and chemistry.

For the Raptors, there’s little time to dwell on the loss. With the Eastern Conference playoff race heating up and several teams jockeying for position, every game takes on added importance. Toronto will look to regroup and get back to their winning ways, hoping for improved health and continued strong play from Quickley, Barnes, and Ingram.

As for the Knicks, the message is clear: this team has rediscovered its swagger. With Bridges and Anunoby leading the charge, and key contributors stepping up in the absence of injured teammates, New York sent a loud message to the rest of the league. The season is far from over, but if Wednesday night was any indication, the Knicks are a team no one wants to face right now.