The Toronto Raptors (29-19) host the New York Knicks (28-18) at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. These have been two of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and the winner of this game will jump the other in the standings.
Here are three key storylines to know heading into Wednesday’s showdown.
1. Toronto continues to be one of the biggest surprises in the NBA
The Raptors had a 30-52 record last season, but they’re only one win away from matching that win total this year. After starting the season 1-4, Toronto comes into this matchup winning 28 of its last 43 games, including its most recent victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s quite the jump, but it’s far from surprising when evaluating their defense. The Raptors rank fifth in defensive efficiency and sixth in points allowed. Scottie Barnes is the one who sets the tone for that elite defense, averaging 19.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. He’s been a beautiful pairing with Brandon Ingram, who leads the team with 21.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists in his debut season with the Raptors.
2. New York responding to adversity
The Knicks lost eight of their first 10 games in January before calling a players-only meeting on January 20, and that meeting has clearly provided a spark. New York has won three straight games since then, by a combined 73 points. That’s the club we saw earlier in the year that won an NBA Cup title. There’s still work to be done, though, especially on the road. The Knicks have a 9-12 record outside of Madison Square Garden this season. With that said, this team is one of only three clubs to sit in the Top 10 in points scored and points allowed (OKC/SAS), while ranked seventh in net rating. As long as that continues, New York should remain near the top of the Eastern Conference standings. They’re also getting another All-Star campaign from Jalen Brunson, who leads the team with 28 points and 6.1 assists per game.
3. Can New York get Karl-Anthony Towns going?
Despite their recent success, the Knicks have been getting it done without the type of production we’re accustomed to from Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT has scored 23 points or fewer in 14 straight games and is averaging 17 points per game in that sample. Though the shots aren’t falling, Towns is still dominating the boards, averaging 10.5 rebounds per game in that span. It’s only a matter of time before Towns’ scoring returns to form; he averaged 24.4 points per game last season. Toronto’s defense will be a test for him, though; the Raptors have held KAT to 22 and 14 points in two meetings this season.
