Matt Tierney - Raptors.com
Time: (8PM ET, SN1/TNT, TSN1050)
Game six of Toronto’s (30-15) seven-game homestand sees New York (22-25) come to town for a nationally televised affair at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors are fresh off beating a banged-up Wizards team for the fourth time in four attempts this season. The Knicks arrive on the back of an overtime loss to OKC on Tuesday where they were without the services of Carmelo Anthony.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Carmelo Anthony – The Raptors have only lost six games at home all season, the first of those losses came at the hands of the Knicks back on November 10th. Anthony proved to be New York’s catalyst on the night scoring a team-high 25 points, while adding four rebounds, three assists & three steals. Through no coincidence, the Knicks All-Star has averaged 25 points versus the Raps in his 13 seasons in the NBA. Carmelo is one of the best mid-range shooters in the game and T.O. will have to do their best to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible.
Kyle Lowry</strong – A positional matchup that the Raptors may look to exploit tonight will be at the point-guard position. Jose Calderon has been running the point for New York this season. Once a fan-favourite here in Toronto, the native of Spain is now 34-years of age and will be faced with the task of guarding an All-Star in Lowry. Over his past 10 games, Lowry is averaging 22 points, five rebounds and six assists, helping his team win nine straight.
RECORD IN SIGHT
The team doesn’t want to talk about it, but with a victory tonight the Raptors can set a franchise record with their 10th straight win.
The streak began back on January 6th in Brooklyn. Toronto was coming off back-to-back losses to Chicago and Cleveland and were looking to avoid dropping three straight for the third time this season.
Fast forward three weeks and everything is looking rosy with the team sitting 15 games above .500 and second place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Raps haven’t gone on a streak like this since the 2001-02 season when they also won nine-consecutive games. The New York Knicks stand in the way of the franchise record and Toronto won’t be quick to forget their loss to this team back on November 10th.
Off the court this has become a big topic, but Kyle Lowry and the Raps prefer to stay focused and in the moment.
“Right now we’re too focused on our next opponent, which is the New York Knicks. It’s time to get focused for them. We’re just taking it game by game, day by day, hour by hour. We’re coming in tomorrow to watch the film from tonight and start preparing for the Knicks on Thursday,” said the Raptors point guard following their 106-89 victory over the Wizards on Tuesday.
Lowry went on to admit that the team is playing some of their best basketball and will allow themselves to sit back and enjoy it when the time is right.
“I think we'll all look back on it after the season is over. Look at the individual accomplishments, the team accomplishments. Enjoy it when we’re not in the midst of it."
