Knicks cruise past Raptors 145-101 in most lopsided home loss in Toronto's history
Rookie forward Gradey Dick is proving he can score in the NBA, but he'd be happier if his Toronto Raptors could get a win.
Dick had a career-high 23 points as Toronto was routed by the New York Knicks 145-101 on Wednesday for the Raptors' 12th consecutive loss.
The 44-point differential was the worst home loss in franchise history, surpassing a 139-98 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on March 5 in Toronto's first game of the losing skid.
“It's not as much about points when we get a tough loss like this,” said Dick, whose previous best was 22 points at New Orleans on Feb. 5. “But you take away the loss in the game, and think about me as a rookie, and what I've been trying to achieve as my dream as a little kid, it is cool to think about, that I was able to put up some points.
“At the same time, it really doesn't mean anything without a win.”
Centre Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops, B.C., had 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a game where Toronto (23-50) never held a lead.
The already depleted Raptors lost guard Ochai Agbaji to injury within the first six minutes of the game.
Agbaji was injured trying to convert an alley-oop pass from Olynyk. The 23-year-old guard missed the dunk and fell hard on his tailbone, immediately putting his hand on his lower back as he writhed on the floor in obvious pain.
He had to be helped to the locker room and did not return to the game with a right hip contusion. A spokeswoman said Agbaji's X-rays came back negative but team doctors would continue to monitor him.
“For a second it was really scary because he could not move at all,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic. “It was just great to see him to be able to walk off the floor and I hope that it's nothing serious.”
Agbaji's injury added to Toronto's lengthy inactive list.
All-star forward Scottie Barnes (left hand fracture), centre Jakob Poeltl (left hand torn ligament), swingman RJ Barrett (personal reasons), point guard Immanuel Quickley (personal reasons), forward Chris Boucher (partial MCL tear), guard D.J. Carton (right ankle sprain) and Jontay Porter (personal reasons) were already out.
“I'm learning a lot this whole year. I'm learning a lot. Just different situations that we are facing night in and night out,” said Rajakovic, who's in his first year as an NBA head coach. “We did not plan for Ochai to get injured in the first quarter.
“It's just like how to continue staying competitive in those games is the most important thing for me. And finding ways to improve.”
Miles McBride scored 29 points and had seven assists as New York (44-28) won its third straight. Jalen Brunson added 26 points and seven assists.
“You can't waste any time with (Brunson) because you look away just one second and he could be going around you,” said the 20-year-old Dick. “But in my situation, it's amazing for me and I need that.
“I always talk about at my age, but at my age, that's what I need as a rookie.”
Former Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa had a double-double off the bench for 19 points and 13 boards in his first game back in Toronto since he was dealt to the Knicks on Dec. 30.
New York head coach Tom Thibodeau has played Achiuwa at both power forward and centre. He already has seven-foot Mitchell Robinson, seven-foot-one Isaiah Hartenstein and six-foot-10 Jericho Sims available to play the five.
“Precious has played really well at both positions,” said Thibodeau. “So that's been an added bonus.”
ANUNOBY & ACHIUWA - OG Anunoby and Achiuwa were honoured with video tributes in the first quarter. Toronto traded the pair Dec. 30 to the Knicks for Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., and Quickley. Only Achiuwa played Wednesday. Anunoby was recovering from elbow surgery and both Barrett and Quickley were inactive for personal reasons.
UP NEXT
The Raptors continue their homestand Sunday when they host the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs on Friday night.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 27, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Some structural damage' from wildfire near Fort Nelson, B.C., mayor confirms
More than one home has been damaged or lost due to a massive wildfire outside of the B.C. community of Fort Nelson, the mayor confirmed Wednesday.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver says he got a cellphone ticket for using his points app in the drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
B.C. YouTuber ordered to pay $350K for 'relentless' online defamation campaign
An 'unrepentant' YouTuber has been ordered to pay $350,000 in damages as compensation for a 'relentless' campaign of defamation waged online against a business owner and his company, the B.C. Supreme Court has ruled.
Chief says grave search at B.C. residential school brings things 'full circle'
Chief Robert Michell says relief isn't the right word to describe his reaction as the search begins for unmarked graves at the site of a former residential school he attended in northern British Columbia.
'Endless Shrimp' just one misstep for Red Lobster as it eyes bankruptcy protection
While it's unclear what these closures might mean for the 27 restaurants in Canada, Red Lobster is expected to file for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. this month.
B.C. man shot sex worker in the back during drug-fuelled birthday, court hears
A man from B.C.'s Lower Mainland has been sentenced to four years behind bars after shooting a sex worker in the back during a drug-fuelled 43rd birthday.
'Inhumane conditions': 68 dogs pulled from Winnipeg home
Nearly six dozen dogs were seized from a home Wednesday morning by the Winnipeg Humane Society. It is the largest known seizure of animals in the city’s history.
Ontario's 'Crypto King' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Of the $40-million Aiden Pleterski was handed over two years, documents show he invested just over one per cent and instead spent $15.9 million on "his personal lifestyle." The 25-year-old Oshawa, Ont. man was arrested and charged with fraud and money laundering on Tuesday.
Driver said he smoked pot oil, took medication before Florida crash that killed 8 Mexican workers
A man with a long record of dangerous driving told investigators he smoked marijuana oil and took prescription drugs hours before he sideswiped a bus, killing eight Mexican farmworkers and injuring dozens more, according to an arrest report unsealed Wednesday.