Coming into Sunday’s matchup in Madison Square Garden, the Toronto Raptors were the no. 2 in the East following a 9-game winning streak but most of those wins were against the slim at the bottom of the Eastern Conference trash can.
Wins over Brooklyn, Indiana, Washington, Philadelphia, Charlotte.
Two of those wins against the Cavaliers, but the 2025-26 Cleveland Cavs are playing like it’s a 162-game season, shitting away games left and right like they’ll get them back in September.
Toronto’s real test came in New York against the 3 seed Knicks.
They failed that test.
The New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors, 116-94—winning by double digits most of the night in a game that was over in 3 quarters.
I would’ve loved for this to be a story about the OG Anunoby for RJ Barrett trade—but with both players sidelined with injuries, let’s start with the player who was granted more playing time thanks to the aforementioned trade
Deuce McBride is better than Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley was sent across the border—the Knicks unwilling to re-sign him to the huge contract the Raptors gave him—especially with Deuce McBride waiting in the shadows to take IQ’s place.
And McBride immediately demonstrated his powers, starting the game with 3 consecutive threes, setting the agenda for the Knicks: dominate.
Deuce McBride from 3 in the first quarter:
4 for 5Entire Raptors team from 3:
1 for 8#knicks— Marc Weber (@MarcWeberSports) November 30, 2025
McBridge singlehandedly outshot the Raptors from 3 in the first quarter.
What to do with Karl-Anthony Towns?
After the first quarter, I opened up a draft to start preparing some spicy Karl-Anthony Towns trades.
For the second game in a row, the Knicks were winning without Towns really contributing much.
KAT is the highest-paid player on the team, by far, and plays like the 10th man—terrified of making mistakes, naturally, leading to a ton of mistakes.
Defenders have adjusted, gifting him no space to shoot 3’s—allowing him to drive to the basket, knowing he’ll commit an offensive foul or awkwardly, clumsily, fee-fi-foe his way to the floor after an embarrassing, uncoordinated layup attempt.
Towns, often the biggest player on the court, is incapable of receiving the ball in the post—defenders pushing his weak ass out of position and stealing entry passes as he begs the referees to help him because the other team is playing too rough.
But by the end of the game, Towns reminded me why I fuck with him to begin with—hustling around, grabbing rebounds, diving for loose balls, running up and down the court—knowing he’s probably not getting the ball but running with the boys regardless.
And when he’s not pressing, convincing himself he needs to “take over”—a skill he physically and mentally does not possess—and instead, allowing the natural flow of the game to happen, KAT becomes a secret weapon.
Scoring 22 points and even dunking the ball once.
Kolek to Towns for the slam!
🎥: @nyknicks.#TylerKolek #KarlAnthonyTowns #NewYorkForever #nyksource pic.twitter.com/IqrM8NolLF
— nyksource (@nyksource) December 1, 2025
You know the other team doesn’t stand a chance when Karl-Anthony Towns realizes he can actually leave the ground when he jumps.
It sucks that in year two, KAT still feels like he doesn’t quite mesh with the rest of the guys (on-court) but there’s a lot more season left and if Towns can casually drop 22 in a game where he was an afterthought offensively then the Knicks are unstoppable if/when Towns figures out when and how to attack in concert with Jalen Brunson.
Thankfully, Josh Hart is here to fill in the gaps.
Josh Hart can just shoot threes now(?)
Sometimes, Josh Hart plays like 2020 Ben Simmons—grabbing defensive rebounds, rushing down the court for a coast-to-coast finish at the rim or a kickout to an open shooter for an assist, while bending the passing lanes, creating chaos for opposing offenses just trying to get into their basic sets.
Sometimes, Josh Hart plays like 2025 Ben Simmons—unemployed.
After whining and complaining about how he “sees himself as an NBA starter”, OG Anunoby’s injury forced Josh back into the starting lineup—unlocking the confidence he needs to actually look at the rim when he’s open from 3 instead of panicking, desperately hot potato-ing a grenade into Brunson’s lap.
Josh Hart is shooting 21-for-48 from 3 (43%) in his last 12 games.
He has the 4th most points scored on the team.
All while having nerve damage in his hand.
Brandon Ingram vs. Mikal Bridges
Mikal Bridges is third in the NBA in steals per game. With an All-Defense plaque in the crib, Bridges has always had the skill to torment ball handlers and the man had Brandon Ingram in hell all night.
Mikal Bridges defense vs Toronto
pic.twitter.com/70cH5BtVDT— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) December 1, 2025
Brandon Ingram could not dribble the ball without Bridges getting a piece of it.
That “wing stop” nickname was cute or whatever but Bridges really can stop wings when he wants to. If this is what his defense looks like now, what chance do opposing teams have once OG Anunoby returns?
Key Stats
Karl-Anthony Towns: 22 points, 8 rebounds, 8-for-15 from the field
Josh Hart: 20 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals
Jalen Brunson: 18 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 6-for-19 from the field
Immanuel Quickley: 19 points, 8 assists, 4-for-10 from 3
Scottie Barnes: 18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal
Brandon Ingram: 14 points, 4 assists, 5 turnovers
The Knicks, now in ownership of the 2 seed, look to continue marching toward their rightful place at the top of the Eastern Conference—heading to Boston for a primetime NBC game against the Boston Celtics.
A potential statement game for the team.
With all eyes on them, this is New York’s chance to end all the “East is wide open” chatter.
No, it is not.
If you want to make the NBA Finals, you have to go through Jalen Brunson. It’s literally been that way the last 3 years.
Toronto has a winnable game against the Blazers next, although Portland almost beat the 20-1 Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday. Get well soon, RJ Barrett. The dinosaurs need you.
Thanks for reading. Let me know if you think the Knicks should look to move Karl-Anthony Towns. Or even better, reach out and send some KAT trade ideas on over and I’ll write a whole blog about it. Hit up ya boy on social media: Facebook. Twitter. Bluesky. Instagram.
Or shoot me an email (I refresh that thing no less than a million times a day) Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com.
Next up to read: 7 Spicy Anthony Davis Trade Ideas
