Raptors-Knicks Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Jan 01 2012 11:23PM

New York Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni likes the direction his offense is heading. Even if Amare Stoudemire isn't on the court demanding defensive attention.

The Knicks hope to have Stoudemire back as they try to build on their best offensive performance of the season Monday night against the struggling Toronto Raptors at Madison Square Garden.

Stoudemire, who is averaging 17.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in three games, is listed as day-to-day with a sprained left ankle. The six-time All-Star didn't dress Saturday against Sacramento, but that didn't seem to have much of an effect on New York's offense.

All five starters had 14 points or more for the Knicks (2-2) in an easy 114-92 win. Carmelo Anthony led the way with 23 points, while Stoudemire's replacement, rookie Josh Harrellson, finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds for New York, which had averaged 80.0 points on 35.8 percent shooting in losing its previous two games.

"Our team is starting to pick up things in the offense that if we continue to do it, we can be successful," D'Antoni said. "When you have a Carmelo with an Amare, it tends to open the floor even more. When the ball moves, our younger guys can get more involved."

The Knicks finished with season highs of 26 assists and 46 points in the paint.

"When the ball is moving like that, you can see how successful we can be offensively," Landry Fields said. "It's a very nice win. Hopefully it brings us momentum going into our next game."

New York had no trouble offensively against Toronto last season, averaging 114.5 points in sweeping the four-game series. Stoudemire averaged 26.8 points and 11.5 boards against the Raptors in 2010-11, while Anthony had 23 points and nine rebounds in the lone game he played in last season's series, a 131-118 win at MSG on April 5.

The Raptors (1-3) were 26th in scoring defense last season (105.4), and although they've been more sound defensively in 2011-12, yielding an average of 96.8 points, it hasn't translated to many wins.

Toronto's defense played well through three quarters Sunday in Orlando but didn't get many stops down the stretch. The Raptors led by as many as 13 in the fourth, but the Magic shot 70.6 percent (12 for 17) in the final period to rally for a 102-96 win. It was the second consecutive second-half collapse by Toronto, which squandered a seven-point, third-quarter lead in Friday's 99-86 loss to Dallas.

"I don't really have an explanation as to why this game got away," said Jose Calderon, who had 18 points and 13 assists. "It's tough. It's kind of like the same thing that happened with Dallas. They're two veteran teams. They know how to play in those moments. We've got to learn from that."

Andrea Bargnani paced the Raptors with 28 points Sunday, but only scored three in the fourth quarter. The 7-foot Italian, who is averaging 26.3 points on 53.6 percent shooting in his last three games, had a career-high 41 points in a 113-110 loss at MSG last December.

Raptors hold lead this time to beat Knicks 90-85

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Jan 03 2012 1:17AM

NEW YORK (AP) The Knicks' poor first-half effort gave Toronto another big lead.

Then their poor final-minute execution allowed the Raptors to keep this one.

Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan each scored 21 points, and the Raptors held onto a big cushion this time, beating New York 90-85 on Monday night.

Jose Calderon added nine points and 12 assists for the Raptors, who blew a 16-point lead Sunday in Orlando before losing 102-96. They opened a 17-point advantage at halftime in this one thanks to the Knicks' inept second quarter then held on to snap a three-game losing streak.

"We didn't let their run get to us," DeRozan said. "The last couple of games you know teams made runs on us and we let it get to us and we kind of broke down on the defensive end. So tonight we didn't let that happen."

Carmelo Anthony had 35 points and 11 rebounds as the Knicks played their second straight game without Amare Stoudemire, who has a sprained left ankle. But they couldn't duplicate their impressive play from their victory without him on Saturday in Sacramento, shooting just 36 percent from the field and misfiring on 25 of their 35 3-point attempts.

Toney Douglas had 22 points for the Knicks, 12 during a third quarter that finally woke them up after a dreadful second period in which they made three baskets. But he appeared to forget the play when the Knicks inbounded down three in the final seconds, forcing Anthony to launch a long-range attempt that missed with 13 seconds left.

Coach Mike D'Antoni was all the way on the court hollering for Douglas to move before the ball was thrown in, and he said after the game the Knicks forgot the play that was to be run.

"I thought the whole first half our energy was down. We didn't play real hard. And then I think we got a little snake bitten in the sense of when you're not playing hard, things aren't falling, it started being contagious and everybody started missing shots, and we were playing on our heels," D'Antoni said. "Halftime we talked about it and we came out and played aggressive and I thought second half was really good, but we needed obviously 48 minutes and didn't get it."

The Raptors missed a chance to extend a three-point lead in the final 90 seconds when Amir Johnson blew a dunk, and Anthony followed with a drive into the lane to cut it to 84-83 with 1:04 to go. Bargnani answered with a jumper, and after Tyson Chandler's dunk, Bargnani sank a pair of free throws to keep it at a three-point edge with 17 seconds left.

Anthony missed the 3-point attempt and Anthony Carter, who finished last season with the Knicks, hit two free throws to make it 90-85 with 10.7 seconds remaining.

Rasual Butler had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto.

"A little bit different than last night," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "They made the run. We knew they were going to make a run. Our guys bounced back, hung in there, took the blow and absorbed it."

Stoudemire could be back Wednesday against the Bobcats, and Iman Shumpert could return this week, ahead of the two to four week absence that was expected when he sprained a right knee ligament in the Christmas opener.

The Knicks showed how badly they could have used his help in the first half.

New York led 23-22 after one, but then shot 3 of 19 (16 percent) in the second quarter. They heard some boos at Madison Square Garden, where the loudest cheers came when receiver Victor Cruz of the playoff-bound Giants was shown in his courtside seat.

The Knicks didn't monopolize the ugliness - Toronto's Jamaal Magloire threw up an airball on a free throw. But Toronto shot 56 percent in the second quarter and ran off seven straight during one Knicks drought to open a 17-point lead before taking a 51-34 advantage into halftime.

"Second half we played with a lot more confidence," Anthony said. "First half, I really don't know what was wrong with us. No excuses, but I think, I know, in the second half we did a better job defensively. Offensively guys made shots."

DeRozan hit a 3-pointer to open Toronto's second-half scoring, but the Knicks surged back behind Douglas, who had a four-point play among his 12 points in the period as New York got within three before Toronto took a 67-58 lead into the final period.

Rookie Josh Harrellson, who had 14 points and 12 rebounds as Stoudemire's replacement Saturday, was limited to two points and five boards. Chandler finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

Notes: Stoudemire said the training staff has been "overloading" the ankle with treatment and he could tell there was improvement, but the staff determined after testing Monday morning that he needed a few more days. ... Mike Bibby's technical foul from the game in Sacramento has been rescinded by the NBA.

Notebook: Raptors 90, Knicks 85

By Adam Zagoria, for NBA.com
Posted Monday January 2, 2012 11:50PM

THE FACTS: Carmelo Anthony poured in a game-high 35 points on 31 shots but missed a potential game-tying 3-pointer down the stretch for the Knicks and the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak by downing New York, 90-85, at Madison Square Garden.

Andrea Bargnani hit an 18-foot jumper and added two foul shots in the final 46 seconds and finished with 21 points for Toronto. DeMar DeRozan also had 21 points. Rasual Butler chipped in with 13 points and 10 boards, and Jose Calderon added nine points, 12 assists and just two turnovers.

The Knicks (2-3) -- losers of three of four -- were playing their second straight game without Amar'e Stoudemire (ankle) and struggled without their second offensive option.

Toney Douglas scored 12 of his 22 in the third period for the Knicks, who got within 86-85 on a Tyson Chandler dunk before Bargnani hit two foul shots to extend the lead to 88-85. Anthony's 3-point attempt from the right wing was too strong, and Toronto's Anthony Carter closed out the scoring with two free throws.

QUOTABLE: "It is what it is; I missed it."
-- Anthony on his missed 3-point attempt

THE STAT: Anthony scored 18 of the Knicks' points in the first half, when they trailed, 51-34. The rest of his teammates combined for 16 first-half points, with the bench contributing just three on a Steve Novak 3-pointer. New York shot 28 percent (11-for-39) in the first half. Overall, New York went 10-for-35 from beyond the arc.

TURNING POINT: After taking a 23-22 first-quarter lead, the Knicks were outscored 29-11 in the second period, when DeRozan tallied nine points and Butler six. The Knicks did outscore Toronto, 24-16, in the third but still trailed 67-58 after three.

QUOTABLE II: "It just feels good to end this trip with a win and go back home."
-- DeRozan

HOT: DeRozan went 7-for-13 from the field and was also 5-for-6 from the stripe. That followed a 17-point, six-rebound performance against Orlando on New Year's Day in which he was 8-for-9 from the line. He plays well against New York, too. DeRozan averaged 19 points and 4.5 rebounds in four games last season.

NOT: After putting up a 14-point, 12-board performance in his first NBA start Saturday night in a win at Sacramento, Knicks rookie Josh Harrellson went 0-for-4 and finished with two points and five rebounds. He did get a big block in the final minutes on Amir Johnson and also drew two first-half charges.

NOTABLE: It is possible the Knicks could get Stoudemire and/or rookie guard Iman Shumpert (knee) back for Wednesday's tilt with Charlotte. "Wednesday is definitely a good possibility," Stoudemire said before the game. "We'll keep the process going and keep getting better." As for Shumpert, D'Antoni said he would practice Tuesday and then they would evaluate him Wednesday. "If he wakes up Wednesday and he's fine, then he could play," D'Antoni said.

QUOTABLE III: "Obviously, we missed Amar'e but that can't be the whole thing. The whole thing was our energy level was sapped the first half for some reason."
-- D'Antoni

INSIDE THE ARENA: Several members of the NFC East champion New York Giants attended, including Victor Cruz, Corey Webster and Antrel Rolle. Actress Chloe Sevigny was also in the house.

UP NEXT: For the Knicks, Wednesday vs. Charlotte, Friday @ Washington, Saturday @ Detroit. For the Raptors, Wednesday vs. Cleveland. Friday vs. New Jersey, Saturday @ Philadelphia.

• Raptors: Gray, Kleiza
• Knicks: Davis, Jeffries, Shumpert

• Raptors: --
• Knicks: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 2

• Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #60 James Williams, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 19763
• Duration: 2:24