The visiting New York Knicks will be out to avenge a streak-breaking loss to the Toronto Raptors two weeks ago when the teams meet again Friday night.
Toronto’s Pascal Siakam scored a career-best 52 points Dec. 21 in the Raptors’ 113-106 victory at New York that ended the Knicks’ run of eight straight wins. The victory also squashed the Raptors’ six-game losing streak.
The decision was the start of five consecutive losses for the Knicks, who have rebounded to win three straight after defeating the visiting San Antonio Spurs 117-114 on Wednesday night.
Since defeating the Knicks, the Raptors are 2-4 following a 104-101 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday to open a six-game homestand.
Instead of dwelling on the defeat, the Raptors will try to carry the momentum from a stunning comeback against the Bucks into Friday’s game.
The Bucks led 90-69 with 3:50 remaining in the game and they still led by 16 points two minutes later. But the Raptors came back to tie the game at 97-all on Gary Trent Jr.’s 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play in regulation.
The weirdness started early with poor shooting by both sides that left Milwaukee leading 13-12 after the first quarter and 39-38 at halftime.
Scottie Barnes did not score until his 15-point fourth quarter, and he added four points in overtime.
Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 28 points and 12 assists, while Trent scored 22.
Toronto shot 32.8 percent (38 of 116) from the field.
In defeating the Spurs on Wednesday, the Knicks got some payback for a 122-115 loss at San Antonio on Dec. 29.
Jalen Brunson, who did not play against the Spurs last week because of a sore hip, led the Knicks with a regular-season career-best 38 points on Wednesday.
Julius Randle scored 25 points on 9-of-26 shooting from the field and added 13 rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals.
Immanuel Quickley added 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
R.J. Barrett (lacerated right index finger) remained out for the Knicks.
