By Harshit
TORONTO, DEC. 9 — 9:49 pm EDT
The NBA Cup quarterfinal spotlight landed at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night, where two of the Eastern Conference’s hottest teams collided with a semifinal berth in Las Vegas on the line. The Toronto Raptors, one of the league’s biggest surprises this season, took an early stand against the New York Knicks in a high-paced, offense-heavy opening quarter.
Toronto entered the night riding momentum few expected. After winning just 25 games a year ago, the Raptors surged to a 15–10 record in 2025 and dominated NBA Cup group play with a perfect 4–0 mark and a +55 point differential. But the challenge escalated sharply with the Knicks arriving in form and healthy.
New York, 16–7 overall, carried the best Eastern Conference record among NBA Cup qualifiers and welcomed back OG Anunoby, facing his former team with an unblemished 4–0 record against Toronto since joining the Knicks.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The opening minutes swung wildly. New York jumped out early, Toronto responded immediately, and the quarter became a trading ground for offensive runs. Jalen Brunson wasted no time asserting control, torching the Raptors for 20 points in the first quarter, knocking down 7 of his first 9 shots with surgical precision.
Brandon Ingram refused to let the Knicks seize momentum. The Raptors forward delivered one of his sharpest quarters of the season, pouring in 17 first-quarter points while stuffing the stat sheet with rebounds, assists, and steals. His early aggression set the tempo for Toronto’s offense and energized the home crowd.
By the horn, Toronto held a 39–35 lead, despite New York’s blistering shooting.
Efficiency on Display
Both teams shot at elite levels in the opening frame:
- Knicks: 65% from the floor
- Raptors: 57.7% shooting
Toronto capitalized on Knicks turnovers, turning defensive pressure into quick offense. New York relied on Brunson’s shot-making to stay afloat, while Toronto spread scoring responsibilities more evenly.
What’s at Stake
With Orlando already clinching the first Eastern Conference semifinal spot earlier in the night, the winner of Raptors vs. Knicks advances directly to face the Magic in Las Vegas on Saturday.
For Toronto, the game represents proof that their NBA Cup success isn’t a fluke. For New York, it’s about confirming legitimacy as a conference power and continuing Anunoby’s dominance over his former club.
Starting Lineups
Knicks:
Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Karl-Anthony Towns
Raptors:
Jamal Shead, Scottie Barnes, Ochai Agbaji, Brandon Ingram, Jakob Poeltl
Game Info
- Date: Dec. 9, 2025
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto
- Streaming: Amazon Prime Video