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Knicks go for season sweep of Raptors

Apr 5, 2011 - 3:11 PM (Sports Network) - With their first playoff berth in seven years now assured, the New York Knicks get back to business Tuesday when they attempt to sweep the season series with the Toronto Raptors.

The Knicks, who are currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for No. 6, have already topped the lowly Raptors three times in 2010-11 and will be aiming to take out the brooms in the series for the first time since Toronto's inaugural NBA season in 1995-96.

New York reached the postseason for the first time since the 2003-04 campaign on Sunday thanks to a 123-107 win over unlikely nemesis Cleveland at MSG coupled with the Charlotte Bobcats' loss to Washington.

Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups all eclipsed the 20- point mark for the Knicks against the Cavs.

"Everyone should be excited that Knicks basketball is back. The standards are higher now," Anthony said after the team's third straight win.

Three of Cleveland's 15 wins this season had come against the Knicks, including two since New York made the blockbuster trade for Anthony. But, the Knicks avoided the season sweep behind their triumvirate and 22 forced turnovers. Stoudemire totaled 28 points and seven rebounds, Anthony added 25 points and Billups chipped in 23 points and seven assists in the win.

The Raptors, meanwhile, snapped a six-game skid on Sunday when DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Jerryd Bayless had 23 as Toronto played the role of spoiler in a 102-98 victory over the Orlando Magic.

Orlando's loss, coupled with Miami's win over New Jersey on Sunday, clinched the Southeast Division for the Heat.

Dressing just eight players, the banged-up Magic remained solidly in the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. However, they were handled by a 21-55 Toronto team that won the rebounding battle, 48-30, and put up 21 second-chance points -- including eight in the fourth quarter after falling behind by eight points.

Leandro Barbosa chipped in 14 points for the Raptors, who shot better than 50 percent from the field and snapped their long losing streak despite being without point guard Jose Calderon (strained left hamstring) and center Andrea Bargnani (sore right ankle).

"We talked about keeping our energy up for the full 48 minutes and we did that," said Bayless. "This was a big win for us."

Both Calderon and Bargnani are listed as questionable by Toronto but may sit for the rest of the season as a precaution.