For the second time in six days, the Toronto Raptors (11-5) will take on the New York Knicks (9-7) on Wednesday night. While the first meeting was at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Wednesday’s matchup takes place at Madison Square Garden.
Includung last Friday’s win over the Knicks, Toronto has now won four in a row. Most recently, they defeated the Washington Wizards on Sunday by the score of 100-91. DeMar DeRozan finished with 33 points on well over 50% shooting.
The Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 107-85 on Monday, winning for the eighth time in their last 10 home games.
New York held the Clippers to just 37.5% shooting from the field and easily won despite turning the ball over 22 times.
Expected starting lineups
Toronto: PG - Kyle Lowry, SG - DeMar DeRozan, SF - OG Anunoby (Norman Powell if available), PF - Serge Ibaka, C - Jonas Valanciunas
New York: PG - Jarrett Jack, SG - Tim Hardaway Jr., SF - Courtney Lee, PF - Kristaps Porzingis, C - Enes Kanter
Statistical leaders
Toronto: Scoring - DeMar DeRozan 25.2, Rebounding - Jonas Valanciunas 7.2, Kyle Lowry 7.1
New York: Scoring - Kristaps Porzingis 27.6, Rebounding - Enes Kanter 10.6, Assists - Jarrett Jack 5.6
Notable injuries
Toronto: Out - Delon Wright (shoulder), Questionable - Norman Powell
New York: none
What to know heading into Wednesday’s game
Not only did the Knicks give up their highest field goal percentage to their opposition last Friday against the Raptors, they also had their worst shooting game of the season.
Toronto shot a scorching 56.4% from the field while New York struggled to put the ball in the hoop, shooting 33%.
New York has lost to the Raptors eight straight times entering Wednesday, but they have ended three lengthy losing streaks to opposing teams this season. They already put an end to a ten-game losing streak to the Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as a five-game losing streak to the Denver Nuggets.
DeMar DeRozan has given the Knicks fits, especially in his last three games against them. He has shot 34-56 (60.7%) from the field while averaging 31.3 points. The Knicks have gone through a pattern of a win followed by a loss in their last seven games.
Regular season history between Raptors and Knicks
The Knicks and Raptors have met 86 times in the regular season with Toronto holding a 46-40 edge in the win column.
Toronto has now won eight straight matchups with the Knicks and four in a row at Madison Square Garden. The last time New York was able to defeat the Raptors was over two years ago on November 10, 2015.
The Raptors swept the four-game series last season and easily took care of business in a 107-84 win over New York on November 17. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry each had excellent all-around games, and both finished with a game-high 22 points. The Knicks’ leading scorers only put up 13 (Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr.).
