Close, but no cigar.
Behind strong performances from Julius Randle (26 points) and RJ Barrett (19 points), the New York Knicks defeated the Toronto Raptors by a final score of 102-96.
Gary Trent Jr. led the way for the Raptors with 23 points. Kyle Lowry added 19 points, seven rebounds and six assists in his return to the lineup.
For more on the game, check below for live updates, stats and highlights.
Final score: New York Knicks 102, Toronto Raptors 96
10:44 p.m. — Tough sequence. Kyle Lowry comes up with the steal, but Pascal Siakam gets whistled for a double dribble before the Raptors can get a shot off. That might do it.
10:39 p.m. — Goaltending called on a layup from Pascal Siakam. Knicks lead 98-96 with 31.5 seconds to go.
10:37 p.m. — Kyle Lowry scores a tough layup to make it a one-point game, only for RJ Barrett to respond with a corner 3. Knicks are now up 98-94 with 34.9 seconds to go.
10:35 p.m. — Another big play from Alec Burks, this time finding Julius Randle on a backdoor cut for a dunk.
JULES WITH THE HAMMER.
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2021
LET'S GO. pic.twitter.com/TJEKp2Zun4
10:32 p.m. — Big shot from Alec Burks to put the Knicks up by five.
AB. Clutch. pic.twitter.com/5n6Zk3uMxn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2021
10:28 p.m. — This one is going down to the wire. Julius Randle hits a couple of free throws to put the Knicks up by two with 4:31 to go. Timeout Raptors.
10:15 p.m. — Now it's Malachi Flynn's turn. The rookie has nine points in the fourth quarter, helping the Raptors take the lead.
"Comin' for ya" pic.twitter.com/IjvIX4ko2E
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2021
End of third quarter: New York Knicks 78, Toronto Raptors 76
10:05 p.m. — Raptors outscore the Knicks 34-22 in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game going into the fourth.
10:04 p.m. — Chris Boucher hits a 3-pointer off of a pass from Pascal Siakam. Two-point game.
10:01 p.m. — Gary Trent Jr. is on fire. He has 14 of his 21 points in the third quarter. It's now a five-point game.
'Tell me how you feelin' pic.twitter.com/R3RkB2vxXx
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2021
9:58 p.m. — We're back!
9:50 p.m. — We have ourselves a rain delay at Madison Square Garden. Still 3:57 to go in the first half. Raptors trail by 10.
9:39 p.m. — After scoring five points on 1-for-11 shooting from the field in the first half, Pascal Siakam has seven points on 3-for-4 shooting in the third quarter alone. Knicks lead down to 10.
Halftime: New York Knicks 56, Toronto Raptors 42
9:13 p.m. — The Raptors finish the first half with 40 points on 13-for-42 shooting from the field and 6-for-19 from 3-point range.
Julius Randle is leading the charge for the Knicks with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists.
9:06 p.m. — Khem Birch scores his first field goal in a Raptors uniform.
'Where I wanna be' pic.twitter.com/ZKPl6dNNiM
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2021
9:01 p.m. — Nice move from RJ Barrett, who is New York's second-leading scorer with nine points.
Ro too strong. 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/jciTFkGWVY
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2021
8:58 p.m. — There he goes! Pascal Siakam drains a corner 3 for his first basket of the game. Let's see if that gets him going.
8:53 p.m. — Tough game so far for Pascal Siakam, who has yet to score. He's missed all seven of his field goal attempts.
8:47 p.m. — Vintage Kyle Lowry. He drains a couple of free throws to give him a team-high 14 points in the game. The next highest scorer for the Raptors: Chris Boucher with six points. Lowry is doing everything right now.
End of first quarter: New York Knicks 27, Toronto Raptors 16
8:40 p.m. — Julius Randle is giving the Raptors some trouble. The one-time All-Star scored nine of New York's 27 points in the first quarter, doing so on 3-for-8 shooting from the field and 3-for-3 from the free throw line. He also has two rebounds and two assists.
That's his spot. pic.twitter.com/bovu3XiJTu
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) April 12, 2021
8:33 p.m. — The struggles continue. The Raptors are now 5-for-18 from the field, and yet they trail by only six points.
Kyle Lowry has been active in his return. He's up to five points, four rebounds and one steal.
'Can't stop, gotta eat' pic.twitter.com/fzYPSANEk1
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2021
8:21 p.m. — Knicks call a timeout with 6:53 to go in the first quarter. They have an early 15-9 lead.
Slow start for the Raptors, who are 2-for-8 from the field and 1-for-5 from 3-point range. That one made 3-pointer? From Gary Trent Jr., who is coming off of a 44-point outing against the Cavaliers.
'If it ain't broke don't fix it, I give it to you straight, don't mix it' pic.twitter.com/4vvuUIABY6
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 12, 2021
Pregame
6:33 p.m. — Good news for the Raptors: Kyle Lowry is available and Khem Birch is set to make his debut with the franchise, per Blake Murphy of The Athletic.
"How's it goin' down" pic.twitter.com/TUqzGBOADc
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 11, 2021
1:30 p.m. — The Raptors will be without OG Anunoby (rest) and Fred VanVleet (left hip) against the Knicks. Kyle Lowry (right foot) is listed as questionable.
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