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TOR 108, NYK 92: Raptors Rally Late to Upend Knicks at MSG

How It Happened:Powered by Willy Hernangomez’s 20 first half points, the Knicks built a three-point advantage at the end of the first half.  New York continued to look strong through three quarters of action as the home squad went toe-to-toe with the third-best team in the Eastern Conference.  However, the Raptors drastically increased their output in the fourth frame by reeling off a 22-7 run to extend a three-point lead early in the quarter to 18 with five minutes remaining in the game.  Toronto outscored the Knicks 32-17 in that fourth period en route to the 108-92 victory and 50th win of the season.  Once again, DeMar DeRozan was the offensive catalyst for the Raptors, leading his club with 35 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor in just 29 minutes.  Kyle Lowry added 17 points and 11 assists in the final meeting between the two teams this season.

Knick of the Night:Hernangomez started strong and finished with a team-high 24 points.  The rookie connected on 9-of-15 shots from the field he buried 5-of-6 attempts at the charity stripe.  In 30 minutes, Hernangomez also snagged 11 boards to go along with five assists.  Notables:Courtney Lee posted 14 points, Mindaugas Kuzminskas contributed 12 points, and Ron Baker dished out eight dimes.

News and Notes:Carmelo Anthony (sore knee), Kristaps Porzingis (sore back), and Lance Thomas (hip) were all unavailable for today’s contest. Statistically Speaking:Toronto outscored New York 18-11 in the open floor today at the Garden.   

Next Up:The Knicks will host the Sixers in the regular season finale at MSG on Wednesday night.  Watch all the action on MSG Network at 8 PM.