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Knicks 122, Raptors 120: Scenes from Towns toppling Toronto

The New York Knicks secured a hard-fought 122–120 victory over the Toronto Raptors in their final preseason matchup at Madison Square Garden, ending a two-game losing streak against the Canadian squad. The Knicks, who had been outplayed by Toronto’s starters in their previous preseason clash, adjusted their lineup in the fourth quarter, deploying their primary rotation to turn the tide.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the charge early, recording five points, six assists, and five rebounds in the first half while shooting flawlessly, including a deep three-pointer that set the tone for New York’s offense. Toronto’s starting lineup—featuring Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and Jakob Poeltl—answered with fire, with Barnes scoring nine points in the opening frame, but neither team could sustain defensive intensity, allowing each other to shoot over 60% from the field by the midway point of the first quarter.

Miles McBride contributed early with three three-pointers in under three minutes, while Pacome Dadiet’s turnover-prone play highlighted Toronto’s struggles in transition. Off the bench, Andre Drummond provided a steady presence with seven rebounds in seven minutes and a pair of offensive putbacks, while Landry Shamet’s fast-break play and Jordan Clarkson’s clutch scoring gave the Knicks depth in a close contest.

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