Kolek’s late three helps Knicks hold off Raptors 122-120

Tyler Kolek broke a late tie with a 28-foot three-pointer and the New York Knicks held off the Toronto Raptors 122-120 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden to finish their preseason with a win.

Kolek’s shot with 53.2 seconds left put New York ahead 120-117 after Toronto had erased a six-point deficit in less than a minute. Tyler Nickel then made two free throws, giving the Knicks just enough room to withstand another Raptors three and a turnover on their next possession.

Toronto still had a chance to force overtime. After Pacome Dadiet committed a backcourt violation with 9.6 seconds remaining, Jaden Bradley drove to the basket but missed with 2.4 seconds left. Nimari Burnett grabbed the offensive rebound, and the game ended without another shot.

Jalen Brunson led New York with 20 points and seven assists in 29 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, helping the Knicks move the ball through the middle of Toronto’s defense. New York recorded 35 assists on 43 made field goals.

The Knicks had led 87-79 entering the fourth quarter. Their reserves supplied much of the offense needed to protect that advantage: Andre Drummond scored 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting and added eight rebounds and four assists in 15 minutes. Landry Shamet had 13 points, while Jose Alvarado and Miles McBride each scored nine, all on three-pointers.

McBride made three consecutive threes late in the opening quarter, which New York won 35-32. The Knicks stretched their lead to 63-58 by halftime and stayed in front through the third before Toronto’s 41-point fourth quarter made the finish tense.

Scottie Barnes led the Raptors with 23 points, going 9-for-15 from the floor and 4-for-5 from three-point range. RJ Barrett had 21 points and eight rebounds, and Immanuel Quickley supplied 18 points and seven assists. Kawhi Leonard scored six points in 23 minutes.

James Wiseman’s dunk put New York ahead 117-111 with 2:02 remaining. Malachi Smith cut the lead in half with a three-pointer, and Bradley then converted a pull-up jumper and the accompanying free throw to tie it at 117 with 1:03 left. Kolek answered on the next possession.

Smith’s second late three cut the deficit to two with 11.3 seconds left. He finished with eight points in three minutes, but Toronto could not complete the comeback after New York gave it one final opening.

The Knicks won despite Toronto shooting 40-for-79 from the field. New York answered with 15 three-pointers, 15 offensive rebounds and 56 points in the paint. The Raptors missed 11 of their 38 free throws.

New York finished the exhibition schedule 1-4; Toronto fell to 2-2. Josh Hart sat out with ankle soreness, according to SNY’s game report, with Mohamed Diawara starting in his place.

Sources

• ESPN: final box score and play-by-play
• SNY/Julia Yohe: Knicks squeeze out preseason win