OG Anunoby scored 31 points on 13-of-15 shooting from the floor against his former team as the New York Knicks cruised to their fourth consecutive win with 139-125 defeat of the visiting Toronto Raptors on Monday.
Anunoby, a member of the Raptors from 2017 until his trade to New York last season, hit his first 11 field-goal attempts and finished the night 4-of-6 from 3-point range. His 31 points were his most this season since recording a career-high 40 against Denver on Nov. 25, and he added seven rebounds and four assists against his former team.
Anunoby was one of three Knicks to make at least four 3-pointers in Monday’s romp, joining Mikal Bridges and Cameron Payne. Bridges and Payne shot 4-of-8 and 4-of-7 from deep, helping New York to a 17-of-37 night (45.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
Each of Anunoby, Bridges and Payne made a 3-pointer during a pivotal, 24-6 run in the second quarter that gave the Knicks firm control that they never surrendered.
Toronto, playing its second game in as many nights, trailed 35-34 a little more than three minutes into the second period before Payne’s successfully converted and-one ignited the key burst. Anunoby’s put-back dunk just before halftime gave New York 70 points in the first half, and set the Knicks on their way to lead by as many as 33 points after intermission.
The Raptors cut the lead to 13 points in the fourth quarter, but came no closer to ending a lengthy losing streak that reached eight games with Monday’s decision.
With New York’s perimeter shooters red-hot from behind the arc, Karl-Anthony Towns had a dominant scoring performance inside, scoring 31 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the floor. He flirted with a triple-double, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing seven assists before fouling out.
Payne scored 19 points in less than 16 minutes played off the bench, Bridges finished with 14 points, and Jalen Brunson added 12 points with seven assists.
Scottie Barnes scored a team-high 24 points and dished eight assists for Toronto. Former Knick RJ Barrett added 23 points, six rebounds and six assists.
