Knicks Thrash Raptors. Brunson 35 Pts. NY 117 Toronto 101

December 10, 2025 LouV 2025-26 0

Jalen Brunson got off to a RED HOT start — scoring 20 points in the 1st quarter (en route to 35 in the game)– but was dueled by Toronto’s Brandon Ingram, who had 18 pts in the 1st quarter (en route to 31 in the game) to help Toronto to an early 39-35 lead.

The New York DEFENSE, however, clamped down in the 2nd quarter, and the Knick team of OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Kolek, Jordan Clarkson, Mitchell Robinson, and Mikal Bridges came to the fore alongside Brunson to thrash Toronto — outscoring them 19-4 to build an 18-pt lead.

NY maintained that lead the rest of the night — pushing it to 24 points in the 3rd quarter — in a 117-101 pasting of the Raptors on a Tuesday night in Toronto.

It was an in-season tourney semi-final; the win moved NY into the Eastern Conference finals against Orlando.

  • Brunson remained RED HOT all night — 13-19 shooting (6-9 from 3);
  • Josh Hart was at one point 4-5 from 3 — finishing with 21 pts on 8-11 shooting (4-7 from 3);
  • KAT had 14 pts on 4-11 shooting (1-2 from 3) and 16 rebounds with 2 blocks and a steal and good defense;
  • OG got big steals all night and 13 pts;
  • Bridges got 15 pts — most of them late in the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter;
  • Clarkson added 12 off the bench;
  • Mitchell Robinson had 5 rebounds, a block, a steal, and 2 pts (2-8 in free throws) in 16 minutes, and
  • Tyler Kolek had his best +/- game of the year with a +13. He was on the court for most of the Knick run in the 2nd.

Miles Bridges was out for NY; RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley were out for Toronto.

NY improves to 17-7, in 2nd place in the East, 2 behind Detroit. Toronto falls to 15-11.

1. Brunson vs Ingram Shoot Out in 1st

The game was broadcast on Amazon whose announcers hooped up the fact it was an in-season tourney semi-final game.

Jalen Brunson got off to a RED HOT start — hitting everything inside and out — as did Brandon Ingram, whom OG Anunoby tried to cover but was called for 2 quick fouls.

Brunson hit his first three 3’s attempted and was 4-5 from 3 when he then hit consecutive inside pullups, then another 3 — so was 7 for 8 from the floor and 5 of 6 from 3 with 2 made free throws to start the game. It was an offensive tour-de-force for Brunson on the nationally televised game and it continued thru the evening.

NBA Analyst Ross Kreines summed it up: “Jalen Brunson dictates where he wants to go and how he will beat u whether attacking his defenders top foot, keeping his defender on hip-to-hip floater, finishing in lane, creating contact, hitting his jumper, backing his defender down and schooling them all while using fundamentals.”

But Ingram was slicing into the lane and hitting pullups. An Ingram drive-and-1 gave Toronto a 35-30 lead.

Ingram was getting help from Ja’Kobe Walter, who was hitting 3’s, Jamal Shead, and Scottie Barnes, and Jakob Poeltl — who was getting buckets inside.

Despite Brunson’s scoring, Toronto had a 39-35 lead after 1 quarter in a high-scoring affair.

2. Knicks D Clamps Down in 2nd — Go on 19-4 Run

And then the Knicks came out for the 2nd quarter and clamped down their D.

OG Anunoby was everywhere, stealing the ball, blocking shots, and scoring.

Josh Hart was everywhere; defending Scottie Barnes well. Karl-Anthony Towns was playing aggressive Defense — at one point chasing down Scottie Barnes ahead of the field and blocking his shot. Mikal Bridges was blocking shots from behind. Tyler Kolek was coming up with steals. Jordan Clarkson came in and added to the scoring.

NY ran out to a 47-41 lead with 7:47 left in the quarter when Brunson came back in for Kolek, and the Knick run continued, with Brunson adding to the scoring.

A MASSIVE Karl-Anthony Towns THUNDER DUNK gave NY a 52-43 lead.

A Brunson burner floater gave NY a 54-43 lead with 5 minutes left in the quarter and one of the announcers mentioned that Toronto had only scored 4 points in the period.

 

3. Toronto Plays Hack-a-Mitch

Toronto then went to Hack-a-Mitch — fouling Mitchell Robinson intentionally over and over again. Robinson went to the line and missed 2 free throws, then was fouled on the next play and went 1-2 from the line. NY put KAT back in with 3:31 left.

Toronto would continue the strategy in the 2nd half — Mitch would go 2-8 from the line in the game. Robinson was otherwise aggressive — diving for loose balls, and coming up with steals and blocks.

4. NY Increases Lead to 24 in 3rd as Hart Stays Hot

NY had a 17-pt lead — 69-52 — at the half, and increased it to 24 pts at the start of the 3rd as Josh Hart knocked down consecutive 3’s and scored on a drive-and-1 off a Brunson assist for a 78-54 lead.

5. Toronto Tries to Push Back But NY Has Answers

Toronto tried their best to push back — Brandon Ingram hitting consecutive 3’s to start a 15-5 Toronto run and pull them within 14.

But the Knicks had answers — Brunson hit a couple of 3’s, Jordan Clarkson scored 6 straight points and NY was up 17 again.

6. Bridges Helps NY Maintain Big Lead in 4th

NY had a 15-pt lead entering the 4th, when Mikal Bridges — who was quiet to that point — started to heat up. He picked up a steal and hit a 3 and NY was back up by 20.

Bridges fed Brunson for a drive, then hit a pullup, then fed OG for a 3 from the corner and NY was up 18 — 109-91 — with 4:47 left.

Scottie Barnes hit a 3, but Bridges answered with a 3 off a Hart assist and NY was up 18 with 3:42 left. It was looking good for NY.

Bridges hit another drive to give NY an 18 pt lead with 1:32 left and that was pretty much ballgame.

Coach Mike Brown emptied the bench — bringing in Ariel Hukporti, Mohamed Diawara, Tosan Evbuomwan, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Kolek.

The Boxscore

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401809834

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