Escape From Canada

It wasn't pretty, but the Knicks got the job done after nearly blowing a big lead.

Good morning! How nice is it to come off of that win and enjoy these three days off? As someone who loves the drama of the trade deadline and didn’t want to experience it on a sour notes, last night’s win was much appreciated, even if it was far from perfect.

As for said deadline, the latest report from Ian Begley indicates that maybe we shouldn’t expect anything big. Begley says that the Knicks aren’t really talking about Mitch in trades and that the team expects him back soon. He does still keep the door open for a backup center trade, mentioning Jonas Valanciunas and Daniel Theis, but with Robinson mending well, the need for that sort of acquisition has lessened in his estimation.

I will of course have full trade deadline coverage here, including an emergency newsletter or newsletters if the need arises, so stay tuned for that.

Let’s get to the game...

Game 51: Knicks 121, Raptors 115

• After some unserious defense early, the Knicks clamped down with a strong close to the first half and led 68-52 at the break.

• While they got the lead as high as 23, New York took its foot off the gas and Toronto took advantage, cutting the lead to just one in the final minutes.

• Jalen Brunson made two big buckets in the final 60 seconds, including a three to seal the deal.

• Precious Achiuwa again got the start, Landry Shamet exited the rotation, and Ariel Hukporti had his best minutes of the season.

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

As a happily married man, I’m quite pleased that I’ve never had to test out this theory personally.

What I am left to contemplate today, however, is whether the same is true of holding a big lead. Is it better to go up by a bunch and nearly give it all back? Or win a game that was nip and tuck throughout?

Last night, the Knicks allowed a 23-point advantage to whittle all the way down to a single point. To quote some more highfalutin’ English lit, it was the best of times and the worst of times, all wrapped into one 48-minute game.

If we’re searching for positives, they aren’t hard to find.

Despite playing some very unserious defense for the majority of the first half, New York fully exerted its will with a 17-4 run over the final five minutes of the second quarter. The Raptors were completely helpless when it came to slowing down their offensive attack, which managed 68 first half points despite making just 4-of-13 shots from behind the arc.

Better yet, those last five minutes featured a booming announcement of the arrival of one Ariel Hukporti, whose defense popped off the screen in a way we haven’t quite seen since a young Mitchell Robinson.

The Hukster was on one, and his team rode that energy to a 17-point halftime advantage. Much more on his outing below.