Sharp-Shooting Raptors Snap Knicks’ 6-Game Winning Streak
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TORONTO – Jalen Rose and the Toronto Raptors ended the Knicks’ winning streak with a record game.
Rose had a season-high 31 points and the Raptors reached a franchise-high in points, ending New York’s sixgame winning streak with a 129-103 rout yesterday.
Morris Peterson added a sea son-high 28 and Chris Bosh had 23 for the Raptors, who surpassed the previous record of 128 points – done twice. They last did it March 13, 2005, against Philadelphia.
Toronto also scored at least 30 points in all four quarters for the first time in franchise history. And the Raptors shot 59% against the Knicks’ porous defense.
“It’s pretty strange for us to have a big-time blowout like that,” said Rose, whose team is 13-24. “When we have a record like we have overall, you don’t see too many games like that.”
The Knicks entered 2006 in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 7-21 mark. But they have played like a new team recently – enjoying their longest winning streak since a seven game run from December 22, 2000-Januart 7, 2001. But the defense hasn’t always been there.
“It’s fool’s gold if you are winning games and are not playing the right way,” Antonio Davis, who had two points and zero rebounds, said.
Eddy Curry had a team-high 20 points for the Knicks, but just eight after the first quarter. Sixth man Jamal Crawford, averaging 25.8 points in his previous four games, had 12.
Rose, who lost his starting job earlier this season, also had six assists and finished 10-for-15 from the field. He posted up the Knicks’ shorter guards and scored 10 straight points in the second quarter to give Toronto a 16-point lead.
“Somebody put a memo in my locker, saying I was turning 33 this month, so I figured I had to step my game up,” Rose said.
Rose had 21 points – 18 in the second quarter – and Peterson had 16 in the first half as Toronto led 66-53 at halftime, the most points Toronto has scored in a half this season.
Peterson and Rose kept it up in the second half. Marbury scored 14 of his 18 points in the third quarter, but Peterson had 10 in the third and Rose had eight in the fourth. Rose’s 3-pointer, Peterson’s layup, and Rose’s jumper gave the Raptors a 25-point lead with 8:51 left. They led by as many as 30 points.
With his team well ahead and more than 6 minutes left,Toronto coach Sam Mitchell removed both players.
“We weren’t ready like those guys,” Marbury said. “You can’t allow a team to have 66 points at halftime.”
David Lee, a new member of the Knicks’ starting rotation, had 15 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes.