Knicks power to 44-point victory over Raptors

Miles McBride scored 29 points, Jalen Brunson added 26 points and the visiting New York Knicks demolished the Toronto Raptors 145-101 on Wednesday.

The Knicks (44-28) won for the seventh time in eight games while sending the Raptors (23-50) to their 12th consecutive loss.

McBride made six 3-pointers in the first quarter to match his career best for a game. He finished 9 of 14 from 3-point range.

Former Raptor Precious Achiuwa had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who swept the four-game season series with Toronto. Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 18 points, Donte DiVincenzo scored 16 points, Isaiah Hartenstein had 15 points, and Josh Hart finished with seven points and 10 assists.

Gradey Dick topped the Raptors with 23 points. Gary Trent Jr. put up 18 points, Garrett Temple had 15, Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 14 and Kelly Olynyk wound up with 13.

Toronto’s Ochai Agbaji (right hip contusion) was helped off the court after falling hard to the floor on a first-quarter play at the basket. He did not return.

New York’s Mitchell Robinson returned for the first time since sustaining an ankle injury on Dec. 8, an ailment that kept him out for 50 games. He had eight points, two rebounds and two blocks in 12 minutes off the bench.

The Knicks took a 31-point lead into the fourth quarter and soon led by 36. They went on a 15-0 run to go up by 44 with 5:46 to play.

The Knicks led 45-33 after one quarter.

Brunson’s 3-pointer put New York ahead 60-39 with 8:10 left in the second quarter. Dick’s 19-foot pullup jumper cut the lead to 15 with 2:10 remaining in the first half. McBride ended the half with a jump shot and New York led 80-59. It was the Knicks’ highest-scoring half of the season.

OG Anunoby (elbow) did not play for New York. Anunoby, traded by the Raptors to the Knicks in late December, received a video tribute and a standing ovation during the first quarter.

RJ Barrett (personal) and Immanuel Quickley (personal) were among the missing for the Raptors.