The New York Knicks (28-18) face off against the Toronto Raptors (29-19) in a crucial Eastern Conference matchup that could shake up the standings. Both teams are riding winning streaks—the Knicks have won three straight, while the Raptors have claimed four consecutive victories—making this a battle between two squads playing some of their best basketball of the season. The Knicks hold a 2-0 edge in the season series so far, but the Raptors, bolstered by familiar faces like RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, will look to exact revenge on home court. This game features intriguing storylines, including reunions with former Knicks players and high-stakes implications for playoff positioning, as the winner could solidify a top-three spot in the East.
Venue Location
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT).
The game will be broadcast on MSG and SportsNet, with radio coverage on TSN 1050 Toronto.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams are surging, but their paths differ. The Knicks have rebounded from a 5-8 January slump with dominant wins, focusing on defense and balanced scoring. The Raptors, meanwhile, have overcome injuries with elite road play and a high-powered offense during their streak.
New York Knicks (Last 10 Games: 5-5, Avg. 109.8 PPG)
Recent Streak: Won 3 straight.
Key Results:
Jan. 27 vs. SAC: W 103-87 (Strong fourth quarter; Jalen Brunson: 28 PTS).
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Jan. 24 @ PHI: W 112-109.
Jan. 21 vs. BKN: W 120-66 (Dominant defense).
Jan. 19 vs. DAL: L 97-114.
Strengths: Elite fourth-quarter execution (outscored opponents by 20+ in recent wins); Jalen Brunson averaging 28.0 PPG over last 20 games.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent road play (9-12 away); January struggles included losses to sub-.500 teams.
Toronto Raptors (Last 10 Games: 7-3)
Recent Streak: Won 4 straight.
Key Results:
Jan. 25 @ OKC: W 103-101 (Immanuel Quickley: 23 PTS, 11 REB).
Jan. 23 @ POR: W 110-98.
Jan. 21 @ SAC: W 122-109.
Jan. 20 @ GSW: W 145-127 (Season-high scoring).
Jan. 9 @ BOS: L 117-125.
Strengths: Road warriors (16-9 away); Balanced attack with Scottie Barnes (19.5 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 5.6 APG) leading versatile defense.
Weaknesses: Home record (13-10); Allow second-fewest assists but vulnerable to high-usage guards.
Injury Report
Injuries could tilt this game, especially for the Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back and the Raptors missing their starting center.
New York Knicks:
OUT: Mitchell Robinson (ankle; expected return ~Jan. 30).
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OUT: Miles McBride (ankle).
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QUESTIONABLE: Josh Hart (right ankle soreness).
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QUESTIONABLE: Jalen Brunson (illness; downgraded recently).
Toronto Raptors:
OUT: Jakob Poeltl (back; no timetable).
OUT: Chucky Hepburn (knee; expected return ~Feb. 19).
QUESTIONABLE: Collin Murray-Boyles (thumb).
Key
Player Matchups
This game highlights reunions and defensive battles. Expected starting lineups:
Knicks: PG Jalen Brunson, SG Josh Hart, SF Mikal Bridges, PF OG Anunoby, C Karl-Anthony Towns.
Raptors: PG Immanuel Quickley, SG Brandon Ingram, SF RJ Barrett, PF Scottie Barnes, C (TBD; likely Kelly Olynyk or Bruno Fernando with Poeltl out).
Key Matchups:
Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley: A mentor-mentee showdown. Brunson (28.0 PPG, 6.0 APG) faces his former backup, Quickley (19.4 PPG, 6.0 APG over last 17 games).
Quickley’s perimeter defense could limit Brunson, but Brunson’s high usage (34.5 MPG recently) gives him an edge.
Scottie Barnes vs. OG Anunoby/Mikal Bridges: Barnes’ versatility (defense, rebounding) meets the Knicks’ wing duo. Anunoby, a former Raptor, has shut down stars; expect physicality.
RJ Barrett vs. Knicks Defense: Barrett (26.5 PPG over last 10) returns against his old team; Knicks’ wings (Bridges, Anunoby) will challenge his drives.
Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Raptors Frontcourt: With Poeltl out, Towns (22.0 PPG recently) could dominate inside against undersized bigs.
Brandon Ingram vs. Knicks Perimeter: Ingram (21.5 PPG) tests New York’s defense, which ranks top-10 in opponent FG%.
Series History
The Knicks dominate recently, winning 9 straight against the Raptors dating back to 2023-24 (pre-dating OG Anunoby’s trade).
This season: Dec. 9: Knicks 117-101 (Brunson 35 PTS).
Nov. 30: Knicks 116-94 (Towns 22 PTS).
All-time: Raptors lead 61-55 in 116 games.
Knicks are 6-14 in last 20 overall, but 10-0 in last 10 head-to-head.
Game Odds
New York Knicks 224.5
Toronto Raptors – 1.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Tuesday, January 27, 2026
