Knicks CRUSH Raptors with 3’s and D. NY 145 Toronto 101

March 28, 2024 LouV 2023-24 0
Deuce McBride with a 3-to-the-dome after hitting another 3 -- photo courtesy NY Knicks.

A game after Donte DiVincenzo broke the Knicks record for most 3’s in a game with 11, Miles McBride challenged it by hitting SIX 3’s in the 1st quarter — going 6-7 from 3! — en route to going 9-14 from 3 in the game for 29 points as the Knicks CRUSHED the Raptors in Toronto, 145-101 on a Wednesday night.

The Knicks played frenetic defense and crisp, passing offense all night with rhythm 3’s to annihilate Toronto. Jalen Brunson wove his dribble-drive-floater magic for 26 points on 11-19 shooting, Donte DiVincenzo played eviscerating defense and added 5-12 shooting from 3, and Bogdan Bogdanovic provided firepower off the bench — scoring in a variety of ways including 4-5 shooting from 3 for 18 points.

Mitchell Robinson was back after a 50-game absence, and looked like the old Mitch – dominating the offensive boards like a man against boys in 12 strong minutes. Isaiah Hartenstein dominated, and only needed to play 19 minutes as the rout was on.

Precious Achiuwa scored 19 points with 12 rebounds. Josh Hart was everywhere — and picked up 10 assists. Toronto — without RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Scottie Barnes — was no match for NY. The Knicks are still without Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.

“We created shots for each other; created advantages; trusted the pass; we got into a good rhythm; and then I thought our defense picked up in the 2nd half,” said coach Tom Thibodeau afterwards. “Rebounding was good. We had a number of guys step up and play well. It was good to have Mitch out there again. Precious gave us really good minutes. Deuce got us started with his aggressiveness. That was huge. And then Isaiah.. everyone played well.”

NY improves to 44-28 and moves into 3rd place in the East after a Cleveland loss. Toronto drops to 23-50.

1. McBride Goes NUTS from 3 in 1st Quarter

The game had just started when Miles McBride — aka Deuce McBride his preferred name — nailed a 3 from the right corner for a 3-0 Knick lead. Isaiah Hartenstein scored on a drive-and-1 for a 6-0 Knick lead.

  • Walt Frazier then scolded McBride for losing his man on a play as Gary Trent Jr knifed in for a score.
  • As he was still saying it McBride nailed a 3 from the left corner for a 9-2 Knick lead.

  • Gradey Dick hit a 3, but next time down McBride nailed a 3 from straight away — NY 12 Toronto 5.
  • Then Jalen Brunson started to score on drives, and Hartenstein powered inside off a Brunson assist and NY was up 20-13.
  • McBride missed a 3, but then hit ANOTHER 3 — NY 23 Toronto 15.
  • DiVincenzo hit a 3 off a McBride assist — NY 28 Toronto 19.
  • McBride hit ANOTHER 3 — NY 31 Toronto 19 with 4:46 left in the quarter.
  • McBride hit ANOTHER 3 — NY 38 Toronto 21 with 2:47 left in the quarter.
  • Bogdan Bogdanovic hit a 3 off a McBride assist — NY 43-28 with 40 seconds left in the quarter.

McBride was 6-7 from 3 and the rout was on.

After being integral to the Knicks last season when he was injected into the rotation, McBride spent the first half of this season on the bench after the off-season acquisition of Donte DiVincenzo pushed him out of the rotation. But the trade of Quickley to Toronto opened up the backup point guard role and McBride has again excelled in it. With Quickley in street clothes watching from the sidelines, McBride lit Toronto up.

“Miles McBride stayed ready, confident and you see why,” noted NBA Analyst Ross Kreines. “Miles not only shooting the ball with confidence but also plays hard through every possession, defends, can create for others, gets 50/50 balls and watch him hedge over screens on one end and utilize them on the other end. Stay ready.”

2. Mitch is BACK

In the meantime, Mitchell Robinson was back — entering the game with 5:08 left in the 1st quarter and NY up 28-19.

He immediately blocked Mouhamadou Gueye‘s 12-foot floater, then scored inside on an alley-oop pass from Josh Hart. Then he grabbed an offensive rebound.

A minute later he scored again inside on an alley oop pass from Hart.

Mitch finished the night with 8 pts, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 12 minutes with a +14.

3. Knicks Up by 21 at the Half

The Knicks took it to Toronto in the 2nd quarter, establishing a 20-point lead. Gradey Dick was the lone Raptor giving NY trouble, scoring on 3’s from the corner or penetrations into the paint.

The 6’6″ Dick was the 13th overall pick in last June’s draft and looks like a good one, averaging 7.7 points and .361 from 3 in this his rookie season.

A Donte DiVincenzo 3 and a McBride deuce just before the half gave NY an 80-59 lead entering the 3rd quarter.

4. Dick a Pain in the Ass in the 3rd

Dick continued to be a pain in the ass in the 3rd quarter — hitting 3’s, scoring on drives — the Knicks maintained a 20-point lead but it would’ve been 30 if not for Dick.

On the Knicks side, Donte DiVincenzo was everywhere — playing frenetic defense, blocking shots, stealing the ball — and scoring on offense.

The Knicks ended the quarter well — a Mitchell Robinson dunk off a DiVincenzo pass, a Josh Hart 3, and a Josh Hart drive gave NY 8 straight points for a 31-pt lead entering the 4th, 111-80.

5. Knicks Prevent Dick from Penetrating in 4th — Romp by 44

Thibs made adjustments, and Dick didn’t bother the Knicks in the 4th. NY didn’t allow Dick to penetrate nor did Dick see daylight from 3.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Precious Achiuwa were unleashed — they did most of the Knicks scoring in the period.

Miles McBride added 2 more 3’s — and was pulled with 4:49 left as Thibs emptied the bench with NY up by as much as 46 points.

McBride could have easily made a run at DiVincenzo’s 3-pt record set the night before — McBride at that point had 9 3-pointers made — but to do so would have really rubbed the MASSIVE lead in Toronto’s face.

Instead Shake Milton and the Knick 3rd team played the game out.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585681

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