Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Feb.20/09

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monuow
February 20, 2009

The New York Knicks showed their two new acquisitions just how much fun playing for them can be. Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 32 points, Nate Robinson added 26, and the Knicks matched thei...

The New York Knicks showed their two new acquisitions just how much fun playing for them can be.

Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 32 points, Nate Robinson added 26, and the Knicks matched their victory total from last season with a 127-97 rout of the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

David Lee had 16 of his 24 in the Knicks' 42-point first quarter that signalled an early end to this one. New York led by 38 and rolled to its easiest victory of the season in the opener of a home-and-home series.

``We had four or five guys just on fire,'' Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. ``It does make it tough for the other team.''

New York can better last season's 23-59 mark under Isiah Thomas with a victory Sunday afternoon in Toronto, when newcomers Larry Hughes and Chris Wilcox could make their Knicks debuts.

``I think if we keep playing like that, it will be great in a playoff run,'' Wilcox said. ``They go out there and have fun and I'm all about that.''

Al Harrington finished with 20 points. Lee also grabbed 15 rebounds in his 18th straight double-double and 43rd this season, while Robinson fell just shy of his fourth straight 30-point game.

``The funnest basketball I've played in my career, I can say that,'' Robinson said. ``So hopefully the sky's the limit.''

Joey Graham scored 19 points, Andrea Bargnani had 18 and Shawn Marion had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors. Chris Bosh shot just 4-of-13 and scored 12 points after missing the previous five games with a sprained right knee.

``You've got to keep playing, keep chipping away whether it's two points or 20 points,'' Bosh said. ``We showed no confidence, no pride tonight on the court.''

The Knicks scored the first nine points and raced to a 42-22 lead after one quarter. They hit 16 of 22 shots (73 per cent), the final one when Robinson drilled a three-pointer while falling down just in front of the New York bench and then reached up to slap hands with D'Antoni while lying on his back.

The lead ballooned to 30 when Harrington's three-pointer made it 75-45 with 1:14 left, giving the Knicks time to break the Madison Square Garden record of 82 points in a first half they set earlier this season against Golden State. But they didn't score again and settled for a 75-50 lead at the break.

``They were in one of those modes where everything they shot was going in early in the game,'' Toronto coach Jay Triano said. ``We just dug ourselves a big hole.''

The biggest lead was 98-60 on Harrington's three-pointer with 4:27 left in the third and New York hit the century mark soon after on Danilo Gallinari's three.

Before the game, the Knicks introduced Hughes and Wilcox, acquired in separate deals before Thursday's deadline. Wilcox was in uniform, but D'Antoni decided not to use him after Wilcox had a long travel week. Hughes hadn't yet been cleared to play.

Both will have to get back into playing shape to keep pace in D'Antoni's uptempo system. Hughes hasn't played since Jan. 12 after falling out of favour in Chicago, while Wilcox was on the court for just 21 1/2 minutes in eight games this month for Oklahoma City.

``I'm in good shape as far as being fit, but basketball shape, I haven't played in a month, so it's definitely going to take some getting out there and running up and down and playing some defence to get in basketball shape,'' Hughes said before the game. ``I stay in pretty good shape, so that shouldn't be much of a problem.''

The best deals for the Knicks might have been the ones they didn't make. Lee and Robinson were considered candidates to be moved because both will be restricted free agents this summer, and the Knicks may not want to give them the big raises they could demand so they can save money for the free agent summer of 2010. Both are playing too well to give up now, coming into the game averaging 16.4 points apiece.

Notes: With Italians Bargnani and Gallinari in the game, the Knicks celebrated Italian heritage night, featuring music and even the starting lineups announced in Italian. The game was being televised in Italy live on Sky Sports. Though it started past midnight in Italy, D'Antoni, who played and coached there, said the fans would have no trouble staying up late to watch. ``They're just getting through the second bottle of wine,'' he said. ``They'll be fine.'' ... Banished Knicks guard Stephon Marbury, still hoping for a buyout so he can go play elsewhere, turned 32.

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Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Feb.20/09

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willnyc1987 (1 month ago) Show Hide

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gallinari will lead this team

CJ2694 (3 months ago) Show Hide

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I think the Knicks need a player that will be a leader for the team.

jakelong2000 (4 months ago) Show Hide

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i feel sorry for new york they are a grate team but they are the but of a lot of jokes i think they need to fore get about King James and and find sum grate players and they will get respect

thebumhole (5 months ago) Show Hide

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lmao knicks owned in dis match but the next time they versed after dis game toronto won can u believe it, new york must be more consistent, im a big supporter of them, does any1 know how to get clothing or posters and shit of the knicks?

evilryansak (9 months ago) Show Hide

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where is j o'neal?

manrajballer102 (8 months ago) Show Hide

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he got traded to miami also Jamario got traded for shawn marion and marcus banks

evilryansak (8 months ago) Show Hide

-1

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j o'neal and jamario is way better than those two guys, wth why did toronto raptors did that trade :(

SirPurpalHaze (2 months ago) Show Hide

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he got traded to miami

KesserCFC4eva (9 months ago) Show Hide

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WOOOOOOOOO I was at this game, robinson was on fire man!!!! Im from England and I can easily say, MSD make the crowd enjoy the experience like no one else man!!!!!

JADDENHOPKINS (9 months ago) Show Hide

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go new york go new york go

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Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Feb.20/09

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