Knicks Storm Past Raptors, Advances to NBA Cup Semifinals in Las Vegas
The New York Knicks' four-game winning streak has officially come to an end, but their confidence is still soaring after a dominating 117-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal.
Jalen Brunson led the charge with a stellar performance of 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting. The Villanova product was unstoppable, dissects the Raptors' defense like it was an opponent from a different league and sank jumpers with ease. His impressive display also earned him some praise from teammate Josh Hart, who chipped in with 21 points.
Brunson's game-high score was complemented by Karl-Anthony Towns' strong outing as he dropped 14 points while grabbing 16 boards. The Knicks' offense clicked seamlessly, and they never allowed the Raptors to get within a single digit of taking the lead in the second half.
Coach Mike Brown attributed Brunson's standout performance to his ability to adapt to the pressure of a one-game win situation. "The ball was going through the hoop," Brunson said in a post-game interview.
Meanwhile, Toronto struggled with injuries and lack of depth, missing RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley due to knee and illness respectively. The Raptors' porous defense allowed the Knicks to shoot 47% from the field and 33% from three-point range.
The win marked the Knicks' fourth straight victory and eighth in their last nine games. With a semifinal matchup against the Orlando Magic awaiting them in Las Vegas, the Knicks are now one step away from their first championship since 1973.
Brunson's impressive display has put him on track to be an MVP candidate, as Brown emphasized the importance of embracing pressure for players who aspire to be competitors. "Life is short," he said. "If you want excitement in your life, try putting yourself in positions where there's pressure at times."
The Knicks' ultimate goal remains a championship, and with this win, they took another step closer to achieving it. As Brown aptly put it, "Any time you can hang a banner, you go get it."
The New York Knicks' four-game winning streak has officially come to an end, but their confidence is still soaring after a dominating 117-101 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Tuesday's NBA Cup quarterfinal.
Jalen Brunson led the charge with a stellar performance of 35 points on 13-for-19 shooting. The Villanova product was unstoppable, dissects the Raptors' defense like it was an opponent from a different league and sank jumpers with ease. His impressive display also earned him some praise from teammate Josh Hart, who chipped in with 21 points.
Brunson's game-high score was complemented by Karl-Anthony Towns' strong outing as he dropped 14 points while grabbing 16 boards. The Knicks' offense clicked seamlessly, and they never allowed the Raptors to get within a single digit of taking the lead in the second half.
Coach Mike Brown attributed Brunson's standout performance to his ability to adapt to the pressure of a one-game win situation. "The ball was going through the hoop," Brunson said in a post-game interview.
Meanwhile, Toronto struggled with injuries and lack of depth, missing RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley due to knee and illness respectively. The Raptors' porous defense allowed the Knicks to shoot 47% from the field and 33% from three-point range.
The win marked the Knicks' fourth straight victory and eighth in their last nine games. With a semifinal matchup against the Orlando Magic awaiting them in Las Vegas, the Knicks are now one step away from their first championship since 1973.
Brunson's impressive display has put him on track to be an MVP candidate, as Brown emphasized the importance of embracing pressure for players who aspire to be competitors. "Life is short," he said. "If you want excitement in your life, try putting yourself in positions where there's pressure at times."
The Knicks' ultimate goal remains a championship, and with this win, they took another step closer to achieving it. As Brown aptly put it, "Any time you can hang a banner, you go get it."
the knicks are on fire 
and brunson is looking like an mvp candidate 
13 for 19 shooting from jalen? that's wild 
i love how he just took over the game like that 
coach brown is totally right about embracing pressure, it makes the win even sweeter 
and now they're one step away from a championship 
can you imagine the celebration in vegas 
magic vs knicks is gonna be epic 
their confidence is lookin' super high after that win and bruno's performance was pure fire 
. Brunson's 35 points were insane 
but have you seen their bench? It's a ghost town 
. They need to step up their defense if they wanna take down the Magic 
Well, I think that's just a bunch of hype 
. Life is short, indeed 
. If you put yourself in positions where there's pressure, you'll probably get burned out 
. They need their teammates to step up and show some chemistry 
. And what's with all this talk about the Knicks being one step away from a championship? 
It's like they're trying to set themselves up for disappointment 
and I love how he's embracing the pressure 
to deliver in big games. The way they worked together as a team was so seamless 
, it's like they're all speaking the same language 
.
, and I think Coach Mike Brown is doing a great job of getting the best out of his players 
. It's not just about Brunson though - Josh Hart brought some serious heat 
, missing key players with injuries and illness 
, but the Knicks are taking advantage of that 
. This win is huge for them, especially with a championship on the line 
he's literally unstoppable on the court right now i'm low-key freaking out thinking about how far this team has come 
meanwhile toronto just got roasted 
those raptors can't catch a break with all these injuries and lack of depth. anyhoo, brunson's stats are insane 35 points on 13/19 shooting? no problem 
The Knicks are on fire right now! Jalen Brunson is killing it 
. I'm loving the vibes around this Knicks squad right now 
. I think Coach Brown has them in such good hands 
.
. And it looks like their defense was pretty weak 
! They're really clicking like the 90s Bulls did under Jordan 
. And Karl-Anthony Towns, dude's a beast on the boards... I'm getting that sense of nostalgia thinking about Hakeem Olajuwon dominating in the paint 
. The Knicks' offense is so smooth, it's like they're playing like the Spurs did during their dynasty years 
️
... RJ Barrett getting hurt is a bummer, but at least he's not playing for the Knicks now 