Overcoming The Rebounding Jinx: Here Are My 4 Notables For The Knicks vs. Raptors Game!

The boys in orange and blue took their talents to The 6 to slay a Raptor. The battle was tough as some didn't make it through the rigorous physical contest (Prayers for Scottie Barnes), while NY boys tweaked and nearly injured their ankles. The Knicks improved their record to 10-4 against sub-500 teams. The top pick-and-roll duo featuring Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns was on fleek while both Notching double-doubles. Precious Achiuwa bumped Sims from the rotation and spearheaded the most balanced bench scoring output of the season.

Here are the 4 Game Notables:

1. RJ Barrett Had A Point To Prove:

RJ Barret took this challenge on the chin and wanted all the smoke with his former team, especially the man he was traded for, OG Anunoby. He stated he was "more efficient" in Toronto, and the numbers proved it! While he had an impressive 30 ball, his wrath for vengeance ended in a loss, as the boys in orange and blue had more grit than the team from The 6. No other Raptors player contributed 20 points, as they were outgunned in the 4th quarter.

2. Towns' Defense Looks Impressive:

I won't act as though Jakob Poeltl is some sort of world-beater, but he is a solid double-double. Like RJ, Towns took on the challenge to contain Poeltl and limit him from reaching his season average of 16 points. Towns was a primary factor in limiting the Raptors' attacks in the paint while dominating the defensive glass with 13 defensive rebounds. The more time he sees at the five, the more comfortable he looks at anchoring the paint.

3. Winning Despite -11 On The Glass:

Even though Towns was dominant in the paint, the Raptors still won the rebounding battle. The irony was that the Knicks could still win despite not having won a game prior when they were not dominating the boards. Still, though not an anomaly, the Raptors are 6-12 when they dominate the glass. It was the Knicks' defense, though, holding the Raptors to 44% shooting from the field while notching seven blocks. This game showed the Knicks are willing to do other things to get the victory.

4. 30 Assists Is The Blueprint For Success:

The Knicks are 11 and 1 when they get 30 assists or more, and their ball movement is usually poetry in motion. Hart and Bridges had a nice connection in 2-man action, Towns had a couple of Globetrotter Esq over-the-head passes, and the starters all had double-digit points due to the movement. The best pick-and-roll duo sported a double-double, encompassing 11 assists from the captain and another six from the Big Bodega! This number-1-ranked offense is unstoppable when they get in their bag by passing the ball and hitting the cutters for back-door scoring opportunities.