Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com
It Was Over When... the Raptors went on a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter to turn a 78-72 lead into a 90-72 advantage with 7:31 remaining. The Knicks would not get any closer than 13 points the rest of the way through.
Lowry Sidelined: Kyle Lowry missed his second straight game with a back contusion. With the win, the Raptors improved to 2-3 without the All-Star point guard in their lineup.
Vasquez With A(nother) Start: Greivis Vasquez had his 21st start of the season in place of the injured Lowry. The Raptors have a 14-7 record in games where he has been in the starting lineup.
Bruno Sighting: Rookie Bruno Caboclo recorded two minutes against the Knicks. Although he did not score, finishing 0-for-1 on the night, he heard plenty of cheers and a Bruno chant from the Air Canada Centre crowd.
Big Line From The Big Man: Jonas Valanciunas turned in a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double -- his team-leading 21st -- on Sunday afternoon. Valanciunas has notched a double-double in three of his last four games and is shooting 67 per cent from the floor for the month of March.
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Raptors Player of the Game: DeMar DeRozan put in another strong game for the Raptors, leading the way with 23 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the field (including 6-for-6 free throws) to go with seven rebounds and a team-high five assists. DeRozan also had multiple dunks against the Knicks, including a highlight-reel worthy putback slam in the first quarter.
Underrated Raptor: Tyler Hansbrough had another big game for the Raptors off the bench. Hansbrough played just 18 minutes, but scored a season-high 18 points on 7-for-8 shooting and added five rebounds.
"He had a good stretch in the first half and I though he continued in the second half," head coach Dwane Casey said of Hansbrough's performance. "Just his intensity, activity and energy got us going in both stretches, I thought."
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That’s A Rap…
“We just have to take focused and understand that every game still matters. We have to take something from every game. Even though we are going to the playoffs, we can’t relax. We still have to keep focused and understand that we still have to get better every time we step on the court.” - DeMar DeRozan on the team’s focus down the stretch
By The Numbers
52 - Percent shooting for the Raptors, compared to just 42 percent from the Knicks. Toronto is 15-3 when shooting 50-percent from the floor this season.
24 - DeRozan has scored 20+ points in 10 of the team’s last 11 games. DeRozan is also averaging 24.4 points and shooting a season-best 45.7-percent from the floor for the month of March.
24 - Makes from the free-throw line for Toronto in 29 attempts. The Raptors rank third in the league in free-throw percentage, but 83-percent form the league is even better than their season average of 79 percent. The team has made 20+ free throws in five of the last six games.
2009-10 - The last season the Raptors won the season series against the Knicks
24-5 - Raptors record when holding opponents under 100 points this season
They Said It
"It doesn't matter [who the Raptors play], just as long as we are doing the right things defensively. I thought our defensive rotations were crisp. We played with force on the defensive and that that’s going to carry over no matter who you play.” - Raptors head coach Dwane Casey on the team’s defensive effort against the Knicks
“I just felt like I was getting into the right spots. I know how they are playing Lou [Williams] and I felt like that was a big key. Just finding open spots and moving to where they can get me the ball.” - Hansbrough on his season-high 18-point effort
“That’s what he does. He finishes though contact very well. He goes up real strong and as long as he can get that ball up, we always know he has a chance of getting fouled and making an and-one.” - DeRozan on Hansbrough’s night
Up Next: Toronto heads to Detroit to take on the Pistons on Tuesday night at 7:30 PM ET.