"The Toronto Raptors, amid a weeks-long collapse, are about to face a real basketball test. The first one posed to the team since 2022, which team rostered one single player who remains on the team: Scottie Barnes. (By the way, a shocking seven players from that team are no longer in the NBA.) Vis a vis that aforementioned collapse? If the Raptors continue to play unlike themselves and slime their way around the court, they could be absolutely humiliated by the Knicks, who are currently 16-7 and second in the East."
"At the same time, New York is 3-6 on the road, and Toronto's exceptional play earlier in the season means it gets to host this contest. Toronto needs to take this game seriously. It's very possible that this contest, with far more viewership than a regular regular-season game for Toronto, will have an outsized impact on the All-Star candidacies of players like Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram. And more importantly, Toronto needs to stop its slide."
Toronto is enduring a weeks-long collapse and faces the New York Knicks, a 16-7 team currently second in the East and 8-2 over their last ten. New York is 3-6 on the road, while Toronto hosts the game due to earlier-season success. Injuries include Miles McBride out and Karl-Anthony Towns questionable for New York; RJ Barrett out and Jamison Battle doubtful for Toronto. The contest carries outsized importance for All-Star candidacies for Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram and could significantly affect Toronto's season momentum. Toronto must stop its slide and approach the game with urgency.
Read at Raptors Republic
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