Knicks 79 - 96 Raptors
Final
  for this game

Knicks carry momentum up north to Toronto

Mar 23, 2012 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - The hard-charging New York Knicks will shoot for their second win over Toronto this week when the two teams tangle at Air Canada Centre.

The Knicks looked dead in the water less than two weeks ago when Philadelphia invaded Madison Square Garden and routed New York, 106-94. But, after another loss in Chicago a day later New York fired head coach Mike D'Antoni and elevated assistant Mike Woodson.

The Knicks have won five straight since and turned the Atlantic Division into a three-horse race with the slumping Sixers trying to hold off Boston, which is one-half game off the pace, and the Knicks, who are three games back after Wednesday's 82-79 win in Philadelphia.

Amare Stoudemire scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in that one.

Jeremy Lin scored 18 points -- although he made just 4-of-17 attempts from the field -- and Carmelo Anthony contributed 10 for the Knicks, who routed the Raptors in Madison Square Garden, 106-87, a day earlier.

"They just kept grinding," Woodson said of the same team that was accused of giving up on D'Antoni less than two weeks ago. "You know it was one of those games where no one wanted to give. They played great defense and our defense was solid through the game."

Toronto, meanwhile, followed up its loss to the Knicks with another setback against Chicago on Wednesday, 94-82.

DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 23 points, while James Johnson netted 16 with seven rebounds in that one for the Raptors, who dropped their third consecutive contest and fell to 7-15 on their home floor.

"We went toe-to-toe with them. We had good looks but didn't knock them down," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said.

New York has won six of seven overall over Toronto and is unbeaten in the past three trips up north.






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