It’s the Toronto Raptors turn to host the New York Knicks on Sunday night for the team’s home-and-home series. Jamaal Crawford scored a season high 43 points and Zach Randolph scored 26 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the Knicks to victory over the Raptors 103-99. Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 23 points.
Once again the Raptors had trouble rebounding the basketball. The Knicks out rebounded the Raptors 45-36 including 12 to 5 on the offensive end.
Starting 5:
Jose Calderon/Nate Robinson
Anthony Parker/Jamaal Crawford
Jamario Moon/Quentin Richardson
Chris Bosh/Zach Randolph
Andrea Bargnani/Eddy Curry
Key Match-ups
Jamaal Crawford was just too much to handle for the Raptors on Friday night. He only averages 12.3 ppg in his career, but it seems that every once in awhile Crawford erupts against the Raptors. Anthony Parker couldn’t do a thing to stop Crawford, but hopefully he’s learn his lesson and he’ll be able to shut him down on Sunday back at the ACC.
Chris Bosh didn’t have the type of game Raptor fans wanted him to have, but he did manage to obtain his season average (22.9). Bosh is a professional and will have a bounce back game on Sunday.
Game Notes:
Knicks center Eddy Curry started the game, but only logged 9:29 all in the first quarter; the Knicks scored 40 points in the second quarter, a season high; only two Knicks managed to score in double digits, Crawford-43 and Randolph-26; the Knicks are 6-21 on the road this season.
Raptors guard TJ Ford surprisingly returned to the line up. He was held scoreless in 11 minutes; newly acquired Center Primoz Brezec made the trip to New York, but was on the inactive list; Carlos Delfino has 8 3 pointers in his last 2 games; Jose Calderon uncharacteristically turned the ball over 4 times, tying a season high; the Raptors are 16-11 at home this season.
Technorati Tags: Anthony Parker, Carlos Delfino, Chris Bosh, Eddy Curry, Jamaal Crawford, Jose Calderon, New York Knicks, Primoz Brezec, TJ Ford, Zach Randolph
February 24th, 2008 at 12:08 am
This will be an interesting test. See how the team responds on a back to back against an inferior team. This will show a lot of what they have in their guts for the playoffs…see what they learned from Friday.
February 24th, 2008 at 10:08 am
this really wont show anything, the raptors will be shooting 50% + from the floor, and it wont matter that new york is outrebounding the raptors, because they wont be shooting as high a percentage…
February 24th, 2008 at 10:30 am
AltRaps > sarcasm?
Raps Fan > yup, useless blowout, players saying they SHOULD have done better the 1st time … blah, blah … rinse and repeaat
February 24th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I have never been content with the state of the Toronto Raptors. We have won 1 playoff round in 13 years…awesome.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
TJ’s playing well tonight, which is a nice site. Give Jose some time to ride the pine and cheer (i think he’s the best guy on the bench for the raps, always cheering and standing up when soemthing big happens.) I hope Smitch decides to use the combo of Forderon or Jose Ford from now on. Primo is doing a good job too.
February 24th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
BREZEC IS MVP…….lol
Truth, he doesn’t look shitty at all…. He looks like he has a post-up game and will get rebounds. This guy will be a nice fit in Toronto. Not as bad as I thought he was…..
February 24th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
he cheats a lot on defense ron. i was at the game, and on three occasions, as soon as the shot went up, he bolted down the court, and got sent on the break twice. if the raptors didn’t grab the board, they would have been shorthanded on the defensive end. i like him though, he was pumped up, and really seems like he wants to play here. gotta keep guys who want to be with the team. probably doesn’t hurt that rasho is here too.
February 25th, 2008 at 1:15 am
A quick revenge at its very best. That’s how I would described about this game. At home, in my opinion, the Raps would untouchables.
Could I have some comment from you about the game?
http://mundoalbiceleste.blogspot.com/2008/02/elsewhere-around-globe.html