National Basketball Association

Preview: Knicks (3-5) at Raptors (6-2)

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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After two road wins over tough opponents, the Raptors are at the ACC for their first game this season against Atlantic Division rival New York.

Following a topsy-turvy victory over Charlotte, the Toronto Raptors return home briefly to face the New York Knickerbockers (that’s their official name) before continuing their road trip.

The Knicks are also on the second game of a back to back, having been dusted in Beantown.

New York fans were talking bravely of a team worthy of a playoff appearance before the season began. I wasn’t buying it, and forecast them for 37 wins and another trip to the lottery.

The Knicks are having great difficulty stopping anyone, as their twenty-sixth place ranking in points allowed indicates. In their last 3 losses, the fewest points scored against them was 114. Only Orlando and Philadelphia have a worse point differential than the Knicks’ minus_7.5.

3 Keys to Victory for Toronto

Next: 3 interesting Knicks

3 interesting Knicks

Nov 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks power forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) controls the ball against Brooklyn Nets center Justin Hamilton (41) during the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Conclusion & Final Score

I couldn’t find any indications of the Knicks having health problems, unlike the plug-the-dike Raptors. That may be New York’s only chance, as Toronto needs merely to make a respectable number of long balls to roll over the defenseless Knicks.

Raptors 113 – Knicks 100