Title: Raptors’ youth movement, ‘ethical tank’ back on in loss to Knicks
Date: February 4,2025
Original Source: Sportsnet
Synopsis: In my latest at Sportsnet, I wrote about the Raptors getting back to tolerable outcomes in a hard-fought, youth-fuelled loss to the Knicks.
TORONTO — The Raptors could get used to things looking the way they did Tuesday. After Thursday, they may have no choice.
For the bulk of the end of a 121-115 loss to the New York Knicks at Scotiabank Arena, the Raptors leaned heavily on their youth. Scottie Barnes, their 23-year-old star, was flanked by sophomore Gradey Dick and a trio of the team’s rookies: Ja’Kobe Walter, earning the start; Jamal Shead, guarding cold-blooded Jalen Brunson in the game’s closing minutes; and Jonathan Mogbo, fresh from an extended assignment to the G League.
That lineup, with some stretches that included Kelly Olynyk, made the Knicks sweat on the second night of a back-to-back. Foot on the gas in transition, where the Knicks just could not be bothered to defend, Toronto used its youth, speed, and energy to make up for a lack of size and the absence of a few key regulars. A huge deficit in second-chance points in the first half was mostly neutralized later. Karl-Anthony Towns slowed down at least a little after a monster first half. Enough threes dropped to cut a 23-point lead to three at one point late.
Blake Murphy Sports Writing 