Gameday: Raptors @ Knicks, April 10th

In the second to last game of their 2025-26 NBA season, the Toronto Raptors are shuffling down to the Big Apple where they will take on Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. New York is still jockeying for seeding position, and all things indicate so far that they will be playing their usual rotation. This makes the game more difficult for the Toronto Raptors, who are also still battling for who will finish where in the eastern conference, but it doesn’t make the game impossible to win. Toronto has once again gotten everyone back from the injured list, and we’ve seen them control their last two games after the Miami Heat in dominant fashion across the board. This team got on a roll at the perfect time and should be able to give the Knicks a run for their money.

Raptors Outlook

Record: 45-35 | 5th in Eastern Conference
Offensive Rating: 114.8 (15th) | Defensive Rating: 112.1 (7th) | Net Rating: +2.7 (11th)

The New York Knicks have plenty of weaker defenders to attack, such as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and we’ve seen in previous matchups that Toronto likes to hunt these two specifically. Whether it be involving Towns in a pick n’ roll, or simply attacking with whomever New York tries to hide Brunson on, Toronto does have options when it comes to generating good looks against this team. 

In order to win tonight, Toronto needs to have an excellent offensive game, and try to keep New York off the offensive glass. If you let New York get too many second chances they will bury you with those opportunities, so Jakob Poeltl, Scottie Barnes, and Collin Murray-Boyles have to really crash the glass to make sure they are finishing defensive possessions. Defensively we’ve seen Barnes defend Brunson well, he uses his size and strength to absorb the bumps that Brunson gives and his length to stay in his air space. Barnes will likely spend some time on Brunson tonight, leaving Poeltl to contend with Towns somewhat on his own, which could be troublesome for Toronto.

Knicks Outlook

Record: 52-28 | 3rd in Eastern Conference
Offensive Rating: 118.9 (3rd) | Defensive Rating: 112.4 (8th) | Net Rating: +6.5 (5th) 

The Knicks have an explosive offense that features a bevy of strong shooters and it is led by Brunson who is a very dangerous scorer. Barnes contains Brunson well, but it is Towns who has given Toronto trouble in the past. With Murray-Boyles in the lineup to help aid Poeltl, it may look better, but with Toronto’s aggressive help defensive scheme, they could find that OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges could have good scoring nights. They both are reliable catch and shoot three-point shooters, who can also put the ball on the deck and attack closeouts, meaning that when Toronto rotates or helps on Towns or Brunson they must account for what these players will do against their tilted defense. 

Game Info

Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. ET

Television: Sportsnet

Venue: Madison Square Garden

Starting Lineups (Projected)

New York Knicks 

PG: Jalen Brunson

SG: Mikal Bridges

SF:OG Anunoby 

PF: Josh Hart 

C: Karl-Anthony Towns

Toronto Raptors

PG: Immanuel Quickley

SG: RJ Barrett

SF: Brandon Ingram

PF: Scottie Barnes

C: Jakob Poeltl

Injury Report

Toronto Raptors

New York Knicks

Team	Spread	Money	Total
Toronto Raptors	+6.5 (–115)	+215	O 219.5 (-115)
New York Knicks	-2.5 (-105)	+265	U 219.5 (-105)

Odds as of Apr.10th, 12:00 a.m. ET

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