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Raptors beat Knicks in Montreal

Oct 23, 2010 - 3:01 AM MONTREAL (AP) -- Andreas Bargnani scored 15 points, one of seven Toronto Raptors to reach double digits in a 108-103 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

Reggie Evans, Linas Kleiza and Leandro Barbosa each had 12 points for Toronto (4-4). DeMar DeRozan, Jose Calderon and Sonny Weems scored 11 each.

Amare Stoudemire scored 24 points for the Knicks (3-5), while Bill Walker had 13 and Landry Fields and Raymond Felton each added 12.

Trailing 83-69 at the end of the third quarter, the Knicks cut the lead to 92-86 when Roger Mason hit a 3-pointer with 6:28 remaining.

But Julian Wright put the finishing touches on the Raptors' win with a couple of late dunks.

"I don't think we concentrated for the full 48 minutes, but I liked our effort out there," Raptors coach Jay Triano said. "I think that's going to be the M.O. of this team, our second unit is going to give us energy and they did that tonight. I think that energy is going to make us a team that's going to make us tough to play against."

The teams meet again in their season opener Wednesday in Toronto.

"Actually, I don't like that at all," Bargnani said. "I don't think the schedule makes sense that you play the last game (of the preseason) and the first game that counts against the same team. But that's the schedule."

Arcade Fire lead singer Win Butler, sitting courtside, was among a sellout crowd of 22,114 on hand for the first NBA game held at the Bell Centre, which opened in 1996.

"I didn't realize that basketball was that popular here," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "I think it's fantastic. The crowd was super, a lot of enthusiasm - it was good. It was fun to play here."

Washington and Philadelphia met here in 1990 in the last NBA preseason game held at the old Montreal Forum.

Stoudemire scored 13 points in the first quarter, which saw both teams use their starters and ended with the Knicks trailing 27-26.

With both teams turning to their benches in the second quarter, Barbosa contributed 12 points to extend the Raptors' lead to 62-45 at the half.

"It's going to be a challenge and I'm willing to accept it," said Stoudemire, who left Phoenix to sign a $100 million deal with the Knicks. "And I think also as a team we're willing to collaborate so we all really have to put forth the effort and get better every single night."