You’re a Raptors fan. Your team just won 13 out of 14 games. You’re riding high. RJ Barrett is balling out. The vibes are immaculate. Then reality hits—you’re facing the Knicks in an elimination game. And you know what happened last time these teams met.
The Knicks dropped 41 points in the first quarter and won by 22. Your team looked lost. Now it’s the NBA Cup quarterfinals, single elimination, and Karl-Anthony Towns just got cleared to play despite calf tightness.
Yeah, that feeling in your stomach? That’s the problem.
The Stakes: Vegas or Go Home
Let me set the scene. Tuesday night, December 10, 2024 (well, technically early December 11 after that late 8:30 PM tip-off). Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. NBA Cup quarterfinals. The winner goes to Las Vegas for the semifinals. The loser goes home.
The New York Knicks entered the season at 16-7, holding the second seed in the East. The Toronto Raptors were 15-10, fourth seed. On paper? Close game. In reality? Not even close.
In this story:
The Blowout: How It Happened
Final score: Knicks 117, Raptors 101. But that 16-point margin doesn’t tell the whole story.
Jalen Brunson Was Unstoppable
Jalen Brunson dropped 35 points and basically said, “I’m going to Vegas, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
This wasn’t some fluke performance. This is what Brunson does in big games. The dude’s been carrying the Knicks all season, and when the elimination stakes hit? He elevates.
Brunson shot efficiently, controlled the tempo, and made Toronto’s defence look silly. Every time the Raptors tried to make a run, Brunson had an answer. Pull-up three? Bucket. Drive to the rim? And-one. Pick-and-roll? Assist in Towns.
He’s becoming one of those guys where you know—when it matters, he’s showing up.
Karl-Anthony Towns Dominated Despite Injury Concerns
KAT was questionable coming into this game. Left calf tightness. Had to test it in pregame warmups before getting cleared.
He said “screw the injury” and put up a 14-point, 16-rebound double-double. His 17th double-double of the season, second-most in the entire NBA.
Towns controlled the paint. He bullied Toronto’s bigs. Every time the Raptors tried to go small, Towns punished them in the post. When did they double him? He found open shooters.
This is what the Knicks traded for. This is what a legitimate star big man looks like in crunch time.
Josh Hart Did Josh Hart Things
21 points from Josh Hart. The ultimate glue guy doing everything—scoring, rebounding, defending, diving for loose balls.
Hart has become one of those players whose impact doesn’t show up in flashy highlights, but watch the game, and you realise he’s everywhere. The Knicks are a different team when he’s on the floor, and against Toronto, he was all over it.
The Raptors’ Problem: One-Man Show
Brandon Ingram tried. He really did. 31 points with 17 in the first quarter alone. He was cooking early, hitting tough shots, looking like he might keep Toronto in it.
Then nobody else showed up.
No other Raptor scored over 20 points. When your second-leading scorer is way below 20, and your star has 31, that’s a problem. That’s not how you win elimination games against legitimate contenders.
RJ Barrett was out (he was traded to Toronto earlier this season, making this matchup extra spicy). His absence hurt more than people expected. Without him, Toronto lacked that second scoring punch.
Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickly, and the rest of Toronto’s roster couldn’t get anything going consistently. The Knicks’ defence locked in after that hot start from Ingram, and suddenly, Toronto’s offence looked stagnant.
Why the Knicks Won (And It Wasn’t Close)
Defence Locked In
After Toronto’s hot start, New York’s defence clamped down. They switched everything, pressured the ball, and made life miserable for everyone not named Brandon Ingram.
The Knicks held Toronto to just 70 points over the final three quarters. That’s championship-level defence in an elimination game.
Depth Mattered
New York got contributions from everywhere. Brunson, Hart, Towns, and Mikal Bridges all contributed. Toronto? Once Ingram cooled off, they had nothing.
Depth wins in the NBA. The Knicks have it. The Raptors, especially without Barrett, don’t.
Experience in Big Moments
The Knicks have been here before. Last season’s playoff run. Multiple elimination games. They know how to handle pressure.
Toronto? This was their biggest game since Scottie Barnes’ rookie season. The moment seemed too big.
You could see it in the body language. New York looked calm, focused, businesslike. Toronto looked tight, rushed, desperate.
The Bigger Picture: What This Means
Knicks Are Legit Contenders
New York is now headed to Las Vegas for the NBA Cup semifinals. They’re 17-7 on the season. They’re the second seed in a loaded Eastern Conference.
More importantly? They’re beating good teams. Convincingly. This wasn’t a squeaker. This was a statement: “We’re here to compete for championships.”
The Town’s trade is working. Brunson is playing like a top-10 player. The defence has found its identity. This team can beat anyone.
Raptors’ Reality Check
Toronto’s magical 13-1 stretch feels like a lifetime ago. They’ve now lost five of six, including three straight at home heading into this game.
The reality? They’re a good team with potential, but they’re not ready to compete with the East’s elite yet. Not without Barrett. Not with their current roster construction.
This loss exposed the gap between “pretty good” and “contender.” The Raptors are the former. The Knicks are the latter.
The NBA Cup Matters (Sort Of)
Let’s be honest—players say they care about the NBA Cup, but does it really matter like a championship? No.
But does it matter for momentum, confidence, and getting to play meaningful games in December? Absolutely.
The Knicks get to go to Vegas, play more high-stakes games, build chemistry, and test themselves against the best. That experience will matter come playoff time.
The Raptors go home, regroup, and figure out what went wrong during this losing streak.
What People Are Saying
Social media exploded during and after the game. Here’s the vibe:
Knicks fans: “We’re going to Vegas, baby! Brunson is HIM. Towns is exactly what we needed. Championship or bust!”
Raptors fans: “Pain. Just pain. We need RJ back. This team isn’t ready yet. At least we’re not tanking?”
Neutral fans: “The Knicks are scary good when healthy. Toronto needs more depth. Also, the NBA Cup is kinda fun, actually?”
The consensus? New York looks dangerous. Toronto needs reinforcements.
The Vegas-bound Knicks
The NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas will feature the Knicks alongside the Orlando Magic (who beat Miami earlier that night).
New York’s path to the Cup championship is getting real. They’ll face tough competition, but based on how they dismantled Toronto, they’ve got a legit shot.
Brunson is playing at an All-NBA level. Towns is healthy and dominating. The defence is clicking. This team is dangerous.
The Reality for Toronto
The Raptors need to regroup fast. They’ve got a long season ahead, and this losing streak can’t continue.
They need RJ Barrett back healthy. Scottie Barnes to take another leap. Consistent contributions from their role players.
This loss stings, but it’s also a learning experience. Now they know what the gap looks like between where they are and where they want to be.
Final Thoughts
The Knicks did exactly what contenders do—they showed up in a must-win game and dominated. No drama. No close call. Just professional, efficient, suffocating basketball.
Brunson’s 35 points. Towns’ double-double. Hart’s all-around excellence. That’s what championship teams look like.
Toronto fought hard, but they’re not there yet. Ingram’s 31 wasn’t enough. The supporting cast didn’t show up. The moment was too big.
New York is Vegas-bound. Toronto is heading home. And the gap between these two teams—once masked by Toronto’s hot streak—got exposed for everyone to see.
The NBA Cup quarterfinals did what they were supposed to do: separate pretenders from contenders.
And right now? The Knicks are absolutely contenders.
Next up: Las Vegas. The Knicks are coming for that Cup.
Quick Stats Recap:
- Final Score: Knicks 117, Raptors 101
- Brunson: 35 points (game-high)
- Towns: 14 points, 16 rebounds (double-double)
- Hart: 21 points
- Ingram: 31 points (Raptors high, only player over 20)
- Knicks Record: 17-7 (2nd in East)
- What’s Next: NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas
The Knicks are rolling. The Raptors are reeling. And we’re all watching to see if New York can bring home that Cup.
Basketball is back, and it’s beautiful.
