Julius Randle scored 26 points – some decisive in the final – thus allowing New York to take home a match in which the Knicks smashed 18 lengths of advantage accumulated in the first part of the challenge, allowing the Raptors to get back in the race in the second half. To cool the hands of the home players was the wet parquet – an inconvenience that forced the referees to delay operations in the third quarter: when the game resumed, the 66-48 Knicks went to the super partial for Toronto.
Thus lost the Raptors, called to the second challenge of a back-to-back after the super victory result of Gary Trent Jr.’s record 44 points – who became the technical leader of Toronto in three weeks. The former Blazers is once again the top scorer for Toronto: 23 points with 9/17 shooting, plus Chris Boucher’s 17 with 14 rebounds; bulky and dominant under the basket. The Canadians temporarily dislocated in Florida also find Kyle Lowry on the field – 19 points – after the five races missed due to a problem in his right foot.