Big Apple's Star Shines: Brunson Explodes as Knicks Rout Raptors, 117-101

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TORONTO, ON — The New York Knicks broke through a historical barrier last night, cruising past the struggling Toronto Raptors 117-101 in the Emirates NBA Cup Quarterfinals to earn their first-ever trip to the tournament’s Semifinals in Las Vegas.

The commanding victory was orchestrated by an opening-quarter supernova from All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, who delivered his most dominant offensive performance of the young season.

Brunson’s First-Quarter Statement

The Knicks (17-8) came out focused, but it was Brunson who set the tone, scorching the nets from the opening tip:

20-Point Quarter: Brunson scored 20 points in the first quarter alone—the most he has scored in any single quarter this season—on blistering $8/9$ shooting from the field.
The Final Line: He finished the night with a game-high 35 points, hitting $13/19$ overall and $6/9$ from three-point range. His high-efficiency scoring ensured the Raptors could never mount a serious threat after the first frame.

The Second-Quarter Breakdown

While the Raptors initially traded blows with the Knicks in a back-and-forth first quarter, which ended with Toronto up 39-35, the momentum completely evaporated in the second.

Raptors’ Cold Snap: Toronto’s offense went into a deep freeze, missing 13 of their first 15 shots in the quarter and finishing a disastrous $5/21$ .
Knicks’ Defense and Depth: New York capitalized fully, tightening its defense and letting its offense flow. They absolutely demolished the Raptors 34-13 in the second quarter, turning a four-point deficit into a commanding 69-52 halftime lead. This swing proved to be the decisive sequence of the game.

Supporting Cast Delivers Knockout Blow

Though Brunson led the charge, the Knicks’ supporting cast and the return of a key big man ensured the lead remained safe.

Karl-Anthony Towns’ Impact: Returning from a calf issue, Karl-Anthony Towns immediately asserted his dominance on the glass, recording a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, providing a physical presence the Raptors couldn’t match.
Josh Hart’s Efficiency: Josh Hart continued his excellent run of form, scoring 21 points on near-perfect $8/11$ shooting, including $4/7$ from beyond the arc. His energy helped open the third quarter, extending the Knicks’ lead to a game-high 24 points.
OG Anunoby’s Revenge: Guard OG Anunoby added 13 points against his former club, chipping in two blocks and two steals on the defensive end.

The struggling Raptors, missing former Knicks Immanuel Quickley (illness) and RJ Barrett (knee), saw an outstanding effort from Brandon Ingram, who scored 31 points but couldn’t keep pace with the balanced New York attack.

The win gives the Knicks their tenth consecutive victory over the Raptors and, more importantly, sends them to Las Vegas, where they will face the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup Semifinals this Saturday.