Early winter matchups between the Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks have delivered over the years. Whether it swung New York’s way in a 41-10 run third quarter that erased a sure win in 2017, or the Raptors way in a Gary Trent Jr. showcase in 2021 — there’s been entertainment to be had under the theater lights of Madison Square Garden.
Today, though, we get Raptors-Knicks circumstances we’ve rarely seen over the past ten years. The Knicks are surging — not just a bit, but to the tune of eight straight wins. They’re playing some of the best defense in the league (when have we ever heard that before?