The visiting New York Knicks and the Toronto Raptors aim to bring more early energy to their game on Monday night than they did in their previous outings.
Both teams did not pick up the pace until it was too late in their losses on Saturday night.
The Knicks, who played without center Karl-Anthony Towns, trailed by as many as 17 points before narrowing the gap to two, eventually losing at home 120-111 to the Detroit Pistons. New York never led in the game.
Towns, who averages 25.2 points and a team-high 13.2 rebounds per game, was scratched after participating in pregame warmups. He is questionable for Monday’s game with left knee soreness.
Reserve guard Cameron Payne is also questionable after missing his second straight game Saturday with a swollen elbow.
New York fell behind by double digits less than four minutes into Saturday’s game and trailed 39-23 after the first quarter.
The Raptors managed to close within five points of the visiting Dallas Mavericks after trailing by 24 but ultimately lost 125-118. Toronto has lost two straight home games after winning its previous four.
Gradey Dick led Toronto with 27 points. Jakob Poeltl (illness) returned after missing one game and contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Scottie Barnes had 19 points and a career-best 14 assists, recording his sixth double-double in his past seven games.
Kelly Olynyk made his season debut for the Raptors on Saturday after missing the first 23 games with a back issue. He scored 13 points in 14 minutes off the bench.
Toronto went 0-4 against New York last season.
