Brunson’s 35 points help Knicks bounce Raptors out of NBA Cup 117-101

TORONTO — Jalen Brunson had 35 points, including 20 in the first quarter, as the New York Knicks routed the undermanned Toronto Raptors 117-101 on Tuesday in an Emirates NBA Cup quarterfinal.

New York advances to Las Vegas where it will face the Orlando Magic on Saturday.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a game-time decision, had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds as New York (17-7) won its fourth straight.

Brandon Ingram had 31 points, seven assists and six rebounds as Toronto (15-11) dropped its fourth game in a row. Scottie Barnes added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.

It’s the first time the Raptors have reached the knockout stage of the in-season tournament.

Starting point guard Immanuel Quickley missed the game with an undisclosed illness. Swingman RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., remained out after getting a platelet-rich plasma injection in his sprained right knee on Monday.

Jamal Shead, who had been listed as questionable with a right quad contusion, started in place of Quickley and Ochai Agbaji was in the lineup for Barrett.

Shead had a season-high 18 points and dished out seven assists, but Agbaji managed just three points.

TAKEAWAYS

Knicks: New York’s smothering defence harassed Toronto from the second quarter onward, taking advantage of the Raptors’ lack of depth. The Knicks D was particularly hard on Toronto’s reserves with only Ja’Kobe Walter (13 points) and Collin Murray-Boyles (four points) scoring off the bench in the first three quarters.

Raptors: Head coach Darko Rajakovic said pre-game that a fast start was critical if Toronto was going to win. Ingram delivered with 17 points in the first quarter alone as the Raptors led 39-37 after 12 minutes. Barrett and Quickley’s offence was clearly missed in the second quarter, however, as Toronto managed to score only 13 points.

KEY MOMENT

Former Raptors forward OG Anunoby blocked AJ Lawson’s field goal 4:30 into the second quarter to maintain New York’s momentum in a 12-2 run that swung the game in the Knicks’ favour.

KEY STAT

Toronto was 5-for-21 (23.8 per cent) on field goals in the second, with all six Raptors reserves who played in the quarter being held scoreless.

UP NEXT

New York: Travels to Las Vegas to take on the Orlando Magic in the NBA Cup semifinal on Saturday.

Toronto: Visits the Miami Heat, who lost their quarterfinal to the Orlando Magic, on Monday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 9, 2025.