Karl-Anthony Towns scored 22 points as the New York Knicks notched their fourth straight victory, beating the visiting Toronto Raptors 116-94 on Sunday.
Josh Hart compiled 20 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, while Jalen Brunson paired 18 points with seven assists.
Mitchell Robinson pulled in 15 boards off the bench in 17 minutes of action as New York outrebounded Toronto 61-40, including 25-14 on the offensive glass, a key factor in the home side’s 22-9 advantage in second-chance points.
Immanuel Quickley had 19 points for the Raptors, and Scottie Barnes added 18.
Miles McBride scored 12 points in the first quarter to give the Knicks early control.
McBride knocked down 4 of 5 3-pointers in the opening 4:35, as New York hit 16 of 24 from the floor and 9 of 14 from deep for the quarter to steam ahead 41-22 after one.
The Knicks’ buffer ballooned to 48-24 on a Hart trey before Toronto launched a fightback.
Barnes sparked the revival by draining three 3-pointers in the space of 60 seconds, beginning a 14-0 tear amid an overall 22-3 run inside six minutes to close the gap to 51-46.
Toronto connected on 12 of 17 from the field in the second frame to New York’s 7-of-25 shooting, winning the quarter 30-18. The Knicks led 59-52 at halftime.
Quickley sank his first four shots of the third — including three threes — and Toronto slashed the deficit to 70-67 before New York recaptured the momentum with a 16-1 spree.
Hart went 3-of-3 from long range for the period, Mikal Bridges continued to lock down Brandon Ingram and the Knicks led 93-77 entering the fourth.
New York scored the first four points of the first quarter to extend its lead to 20 points, leading by as many as 23 points in the final frame. Towns helmed the strong finish with nine points and five rebounds.
