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Game Day: Raptors vs. Knicks

Jay Satur - Raptors.com

The Raptors play their final home game of 2014 before hitting the road for six straight. NOTE THE EARLIER START TIME FOR THIS ONE (3:30 PM, Sportsnet, Sportsnet 590 The FAN).

Projected Starting Lineups

Raptors: Kyle Lowry (G), Terrence Ross (F), Landry Fields (F), Amir Johnson (F), Jonas Valanciunas (C)

Knicks: Jose Calderon (G) Tim Hardaway Jr. (G), Carmelo Anthony (F), Quincy Acy (F), Amar’e Stoudemire (C)

Injury/Roster Report

Raptors: DeMar DeRozan - Torn left adductor longus tendon (out)

Knicks: J.R. Smith – Partially Torn Left Plantar Fascia (doubtful), Andrea Bargnani – Strained right calf (out), Cleanthony Early – Injured Right Knee (out), Iman Shumpert - Dislocated Left Shoulder (out)

Three Pointers

Raptors (Game Notes)

  • The Raptors allowed the Pistons to break the century mark in Friday's 110-100 road win, the most points they'd allowed in their previous four games. In terms of overall defensive efficiency however, they've been on point during their current five-game winning streak -- boasting the league's best rating at 94.9 points allowed per 100 possessions. The Raptors are 12-0 when holding opponents under 100 points this season and 11-0 when opponents shoot less than 45 per cent from the field.
  • Bench scoring continues to be a huge key for the Raptors, who come into this one ranked third in the NBA in that category (39.7 ppg) this season and that's up in 11 games without the injured DeMar DeRozan (42.1). The bench combined for 59 points, while shooting .537 (22-for-41) from the field in Friday's win over the Pistons. At least one Raptors reserve has scored 10 or more points in every game this season.
  • The Raptors have been doing damage in the second half of games during their current five-game win streak, with a +53 (264-to-211) scoring differential after halftime in those games. The Raptors have scored 50 points in the second half of every game during this stretch, while opponents have averaged 44.2 points in the final two quarters.

Knicks (Game Notes)

  • The Knicks come in to this one having dropped four straight. New York was outscored 32-22 in the fourth quarter of their most recent loss and shot 39.8 per cent from the floor overall in a 99-90 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden.
  • Carmelo Anthony remains a huge scoring threat against the Raptors this afternoon -- he's averaged 32.2 points per game in his last five meetings with the Raptors and scored 34 points in the Raptors' 95-90 overtime win at Madison Square Garden last Sunday.
  • The Knicks have struggled offensively during their current 1-14 stretch, averaging 91.9 points with an offensive efficiency of 98.3 points per 100 possessions (24th in NBA)