Game Rap: Raptors 109, Knicks 111

Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com

DeMar DeRozan’s reverse lay-up attempt went in and then out with 5.9 seconds remaining and the New York Knicks ahead by two. The Raptors had to foul on the next possession and Lance Thomas capped off a strong night with two free throws to put the Knicks ahead by four. Despite a Cory Joseph three-pointer, the Knicks made one of two free throws and the Raptors, without a timeout, were unable to connect at the buzzer leaving the Knicks to escape with a 111-109 victory.

Carmelo Anthony appeared to travel and then step out of bounds after the Knicks inbounded the ball with 22.8 seconds on the clock and the Raptors trailing by a point. Neither was called and the Raptors were whistled for a foul on Lance Thomas who made two free throws to put the Knicks ahead by three with 17.2 seconds remaining on the clock. After the game, crew chief Ed Malloy told a pool reporter that the officiating crew did not see Anthony step out of bounds nor did they see him travel. “When we came in and we reviewed the play,” Malloy said. “We did see Anthony step out of bounds and should’ve awarded the ball to Toronto.”

DeMarre Carroll missed his second straight game with a sore left heel. James Johnson started in his place for the second consecutive game.

The team announced that Terrence Ross would be out indefinitely with a ligament injury to his left thumb. The injury was sustained during a basketball workout on Monday after the team returned from their road trip. After the game, Ross spoke with reporters in the locker room while wearing a brace on his thumb.

Kyle Lowry flirted with a triple-double in the loss, scoring 23 points on 8-for-18 shooting to go along with seven rebounds, nine assists, three steals and a blocked shot in 37 minutes of action.

Cory Joseph had another strong effort for the Raptors off the bench. With Carroll and Ross sidelined, look for the team to go small and for Joseph to get a bigger opportunity in games to come. On Tuesday, Joseph scored 12 points to go with six rebounds, eight assists and a blocked shot.

“They had a big night. Lance Thomas, I don’t know how many threes he’s hit this year, he made his threes. The young kid [Galloway] comes in right before the fourth quarter and knocks down a three, so again, you’ve got to make your breaks in this game and we didn’t. We didn't make our breaks. Especially down the stretch.”- Dwane Casey on the New York bench coming up big

4… The Raptors shot just 24 percent from beyond the arc and made just four three-pointers (4-for-17), one more than in Sunday’s loss against the Miami Heat.11… In comparison, the Knicks connected on 11 of their 23 attempts from deep (48 percent).60… The Raptors lost the game despite outscoring New York 60-34 on points in the paint.11… The Knicks attempted 11 more field goals than the Raptors, making 42 of 95 attempts from the floor, compared to 37 of 84 for Toronto.19… second-chance points for the Heat, four for the Raptors.54… Bench points for the Knicks compared to just 23 for Toronto. Lance Thomas scored 17 off the bench and Langston Galloway added 15.

“It’s a fast game. It’s a tough game. He was right there in front of me. We weren’t trying to foul. We were trying to trap. Video showed that he stepped out of bounds. I don't know. I’m going to look at it again; You’ve got a million different angles. I saw with with my own eyes in front of me, but again, it’s a tough game to officiate. I wouldn’t say anything if he wasn’t right there in front of me. I thought he was out of bounds, I guess Tony [Brown] felt like it was different.”- Dwane Casey on the non-call on Carmelo Anthony

“I was just working out and I hit my finger against another player. It hit me in the right spot. I thought it might have been a jam, but it didn’t feel like that after awhile. It started swelling up, so I went to see the trainer. It’s tough. It’s my first time being injured [during the season]. I have to stay active, keep doing what I normally do, work out, stay in shape and stay ready.”- Terrence Ross on his thumb injury“There were a lot of things all night that we were definitely frustrated about. We still had a chance to pull it out. I missed a free throw and even though I missed, we got the ball back and missed a layup. It’ a combination of things.”- DeMar DeRozan on a frustrating loss“Being down Terrence Ross and DeMarre Carroll, we probably have to go that way a little bit. Cory Joseph has done a heck of a job. He’s a heck of a player. He gives us energy and that boost off the bench.”- Dwane Casey on the decision to go small

The Raptors head to Philadelphia to take on the 76ers in the second game of a back-to-back on Wednesday night at 7 P.M ET.