Fri. 2/03 Knicks @ Raptors - Postgame & Comments

Preview:TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks return to the site of where their season took a horrible turn when they take on the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

While much of the season has been a dismal one for the Knicks, they provided their fans a reason for optimism with six straight wins to start 2006. However, a 129-103 loss here January 15 ended the run and kicked off an embarrassing slide.

Including that setback, New York has lost nine of 10 games to fall behind Toronto and into last place in the Atlantic Division. Five of the losses have come by double digits and the club may have bottomed out with Tuesday's 130-97 loss at home to the Los Angeles Lakers.

While the Knicks got Antonio Davis back from his five-game suspension, they lost coach Larry Brown to an ejection and lost their fans at some point during Lakers star Kobe Bryant's 40-point performance.

The crowd at Madison Square Garden rained chants of "M-V-P" on Bryant, who made three more free throws (23) than the hosts. New York was paced by Qyntel Woods' 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Raptors got 33 points and 13 rebounds from Chris Bosh in Wednesday's 117-112 victory over Washington, their second in a row and 10th in 18 games after an awful start to the season.

Mike James added 29 points and made 5-of-7 3-pointers for Toronto, which is 2-0 on its five-game homestand.

The Raptors have won four of the last five meetings with the Knicks after a 2-10 stretch in the series.

Recap:TORONTO, Feb. 3 (Ticker) -- The Knicks traded for a talented swingman before the game, but did not paint a very rosy picture once it tipped off.

The Knicks committed 21 turnovers, missed 11 free throws and were dominated on the glass in absorbing a 104-90 defeat at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, who once again got strong efforts from Chris Bosh and rookie Charlie Villanueva.

Less than one hour before tipoff, the Raptors and Knicks exchanged high-priced veterans, with Toronto receiving enigmatic forward Antonio Davis and New York obtaining Rose and a 2006 first-round pick.

While neither player took part in Friday's game, the result likely would not have changed as the Knicks (14-31) lost for the 10th time in 11 games, absorbing their sixth double-digit setback in that stretch.

In the last three weeks, New York has fallen to Toronto (17-30) twice by a combined 40 points and suffered ugly losses to Philadelphia, which played without Allen Iverson, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers.

In this one, the Knicks allowed the Raptors to score 64 points in the first half and trailed by 17 at intermission. New York actually shot a sizzling 59 percent (16-of-27) in the opening 24 minutes but committed 12 turnovers in the half.

Larry Brown's squad basically chased Toronto the rest of the way, never coming close to threatening the Raptors, who won their third straight game.

New York made a run to close within 88-77 with 8 1/2 minutes remaining before Villanueva drilled a 3-pointer and Bosh made a jumper on Toronto's next two trips, shifting the momentum.

Bosh finished with 29 points, connecting on 7-of-18 shots from the floor and 15-of-17 from the foul line. Villanueva contributed 18 and nine rebounds and Mike James chipped in 15 and 10 assists for the Raptors, who made 24-of-27 free throws and held a 42-34 rebounding advantage.

Eddy Curry scored 17 points and Quentin Richardson added 13 for the Knicks, who played without Stephon Marbury (shoulder).

NewYorkBaller7 wrote:Q-Rich with another 3