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Raptors hang on to down Knicks

Jan 3, 2012 - 6:50 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Andrea Bargnani and DeMar DeRozan each scored 21 points as the Toronto Raptors held off a big second-half push by the New York Knicks to take a 90-85 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Toronto held a 51-34 lead at the half, but were outscored by New York, 51-39, in the second half as the Knicks' offense caught fire.

Carmelo Anthony scored 17 of his 35 points in the second half on 7-of-15 shooting in that span, but it was not enough for New York to avoid its third loss in four games.

"I thought the whole first half our energy was down and we didn't play real hard," Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Then I think we got a little snake bitten in the sense of when you're not playing hard, things aren't falling and it gets contagious and everybody starts missing shots."

Toney Douglas added 22 points for the Knicks, while Rasual Butler had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto, which put an end to a three-game skid.

After a DeRozan three-pointer gave the Raptors their biggest lead of the game, 54-36, a little over a minute into the third quarter, New York reeled off a 20-5 run over the next seven-plus minutes to get within three at 59-56.

James Johnson put an end to the swing with a trey and Toronto closed out the third with five straight points to take a 67-58 lead into the fourth.

New York opened the final quarter with four straight points to close the gap and the teams traded buckets over the next eight minutes. The Knicks got as close as three a couple times in that span, but each time Toronto answered to hold them off.

Then with the Raptors holding an 84-79 lead with 2:08 to play, a Douglas jumper followed by an Anthony layup brought New York within one entering the final minute.

But Bargnani drained a long deuce coming out of a timeout and then sank a pair of free throws after an Anthony jam to keep Toronto's advantage at three points.

Anthony had a potential game-tying three in the closing seconds rim out and Toronto's Anthony Carter grabbed the rebound to secure the victory.

"We're just happy that he missed it and we got the bounce and the rebound," said Carter.

Game Notes

New York had won four straight over Toronto entering the game...New York scored 25 points off 18 Toronto turnovers...Toronto held a 29-25 advantage on the glass.