 | James Johnson, PF 16 MIN | 0-3 FG | 0-1 3FG | 1-4 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 4 BLK | 1 TO | 1 PTS | -12 +/-Fully couldn’t recall much of anything he did in the first half, but he did well in the 3rd to shut down Afflalo who was quickly pulling the Knicks back into the game. In fact, his third quarter defense fully negated him being invisible on offense; I suppose it’s fortunate he only took three shots. |  |
 | Luis Scola, PF 19 MIN | 3-5 FG | 1-2 3FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 7 PTS | -11 +/-His three point range really opened things up for the Raptors in the 1st quarter, and even made a few impressive defensive plays for an old guy. Had a line item in my notes saying “defense wasn’t”: Wasn’t there? Wasn’t good? Just wasn’t? …probably. |  |
 | Jonas Valanciunas, C 28 MIN | 4-16 FG | 0-0 3FG | 3-3 FT | 18 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 11 PTS | -2 +/-Pulled down an incredible 18 rebounds in 28 minutes, and would have had more if he was able to box out Lopez better (to be fair, Lopez has a career because of his agility as a big man, so take it for what it’s worth). Poor shooting night, but didn’t force much which showed some maturity and restraint. | |
 | Kyle Lowry, PG 41 MIN | 8-16 FG | 3-5 3FG | 7-8 FT | 6 REB | 10 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 3 TO | 26 PTS | +15 +/-Moved the ball well offensively: came off the high-screen looking to get people involved, and seemed to make the correct decision every single time. Was very active in passing lanes, and putting pressure on the ball; was actually very impressed with his defense (didn’t it feel like he had at least 6-7 steals or was it just me?). MVP, man… |  |
 | DeMar DeRozan, SG 36 MIN | 9-18 FG | 1-3 3FG | 7-8 FT | 1 REB | 4 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 3 TO | 26 PTS | +3 +/-The man’s a two-time all-star; doesn’t matter what he did in a Raptors win (10 in a row-win). |  |
 | Patrick Patterson, PF 29 MIN | 4-6 FG | 2-3 3FG | 0-0 FT | 5 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 10 PTS | +21 +/-This was a perfect game for him as far as I’m concerned: 1st half – offensive spark plug off the bench, hitting two very timely threes that seemed to deflate the Knicks some; 3rd quarter – checks in at the six minute mark (along with Ross an Bismack) and immediately injects energy into a Raptors team that came out of the half in body only (their heads were still in the locker room) helping the Raptors to finish the quarter on a 13-6 run. | |
 | Terrence Ross, SF 22 MIN | 2-9 FG | 1-5 3FG | 1-2 FT | 5 REB | 1 AST | 1 STL | 2 BLK | 0 TO | 6 PTS | +23 +/-I liked the shots that he took, but I hated how many of them he missed. That’s ok though because it didn’t impact his ability to defend. Wasn’t a great game for Terry (TJ? What are we calling him these days?), but the Raptors needed his defense and energy more than his offense tonight, and in that respect he came through. | |
 | Bismack Biyombo, C 20 MIN | 2-3 FG | 0-0 3FG | 1-2 FT | 2 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | +12 +/-Still not sure what possessed him to shoot that jumper from the foul line, but at least Lowry grabbed the missed shot and the possession wasn’t wasted (yes, a Bismak jumper is a wasted shot, might as well kick the ball into the stands). His impact was huge in the third (along with 2Pat and Ross) where the three of them swung the pendulum back into the Raptors favour. |  |
 | Cory Joseph, PG 24 MIN | 5-8 FG | 0-1 3FG | 1-2 FT | 7 REB | 4 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 11 PTS | 0 +/-Could take any quick reaction from any other game and put it here. Would have liked to have seen some of Lowry’s minutes come to him; not because he deserves more minutes (he does), but because Lowry didn’t need to be played for 41 minutes tonight. | |
 | Norman Powell, SG 4 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 3FG | 0-0 FT | 1 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 0 TO | 0 PTS | +1 +/-A fierce four minutes. Fierce. Let’s give him a B just cause it doesn’t matter. |  |
 | Dwane Casey 41 minutes for Lowry? Why not give Cojo more run? Especially in garbage time (what little garbage time we had that is). Got into trouble in the 3rd quarter with the Raptors coming out of the half flat-footed, but sent 2Pat, Bismack, and Ross into the game, and immediately things started to turn around. Overall, the Raptors looked very prepared defensively, but it took till the middle of the 4th before the game was comfortably out of the reach of the Knicks. Got his 10th win in a row, but it was a hard earned one against a team missing their two best players. | |
Three Things We Saw
- Team defense was phenomenal: 11 blocks, 7 steals – it really put them in a position to win the game when those shots were just not falling for the last 4 minutes of the 2nd quarter, and the first 6 minutes of 3rd quarter.
- 32pts 4blks 1stl 5ast 20rebs +57: the Raptors bench lady’s and gentlemen. Could have easily padded their stats while saving a few points against in garbage time if Casey threw them out there with 2-3 minutes to go in the game.
- The 10-game winning streak can only be overshadowed by DeMar’s 2nd all-star game selection (rightfully so btw).
