Knicks routed by Kawhi-less Raptors
TORONTO — The Knicks got 24 hours to savor their lastsecond Sunday matinee victory over the Lakers before reality bit them in Canada.
The Raptors don’t lose at home to the Atlantic Division. Especially not to the leagueworst Knicks, even if the Raptors were without their best player, Kawhi Leonard.
The rout became so ugly Knicks coach David Fizdale called timeout 1:05 into the second half to pull all five of his starters. It was one 3-pointer after another for the Raptors as they crushed the comatose Knicks at Scotiabank Arena in a 128-92 disgrace.
“Not getting it done,’’ Fizdale said of his decision to pull the quintet. “Not playing at a level I want to see the game played at. Everyone out there owned it. I can’t waste a minute to let them wallow.’’
The victory gave the Raptors a remarkable home record of 31-0 against the Atlantic Division since 2015-16. The Knicks, who fell to 14-57, had no answers.
As Leonard rested, the Raptors (50-21) feasted on the Knicks’ sluggish defense and built a 34-point lead midway through the third quarter and led by 38 in the fourth.
“Offensive rebounds, kickouts, they broke us down driving at us,’’ Damyean Dotson said. “We didn’t contain the ball well and we didn’t get to their shooters well.”
Eight Raptors hit double figures, led by Pascal Siakam’s 19 points. Kyle Lowry scored 15 points and had eight assists, six rebounds in 26 minutes while Fred VanVleet burned the Knicks for 13 points and 12 assists.
Allonzo Trier paced the Knicks with 22 points off the bench. The Knicks, who are 1-13 against the Raptors since 2015, shot 32.9 percent while Toronto was a sensational 17-of-40 from 3-point land.
The deficit ballooned to 81-54 and Fizdale had seen enough, removing his starting five of DeAndre Jordan, Mario Hezonja, Kevin Knox, Dotson and Emmanuel Mudiay all at once.
The Raptors played Leonard in their loss in Detroit on Sunday and it is all but policy not to play him on back-to-back nights and Serge Ibaka is on suspension. Raptors coach Nick Nurse likely figured Toronto could handle the Knicks minus Leonard. Nurse was dead on.