New York Knicks vs Toronto Raptors Preview: Can The Knicks Clinch A Dominant Finish Of The Regular Season?

Kimberly McClary
Apr 9, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives on New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks will continue the remainder of their homestand to finish out the regular season tonight, April 10, 2026, as they host the Toronto Raptors. Coming off a stellar win against the Boston Celtics and stringing together a four-game winning streak.

The Knicks will look to keep the hot hand as they face off against yet another inter-conference rival. The Knicks have dominated the Raptors recently, winning all four meetings so far this season to extend their head-to-head win streak to 12 games.

Game Details

Date:  Friday, April 10, 2026

Time: 7:30 PM EDT

Location:  Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY

TV/Streaming:  MSG, MSG+, NBA League Pass/Fubo, NBA League Pass

Odds: Spread: Knicks -6.5, Raptors +6.5; Moneyline: Knicks -240 to -272, Raptors +184 to +225, Total (O/U):  219.5

Team Form & Recent Results

New York Knicks Form (52-28)

  • They have won four of their last five games and are currently on a four-game winning streak, winning their most recent matchup against the Boston Celtics on April 9, 2026, 112-106.
  • In their last five games, they have gone 4-1, showcasing elite fourth-quarter execution and high-level scoring from their stars, while still struggling with slow starts and inconsistent bench support.
  • Strengths: elite fourth-quarter performance, star scoring and playmaking, clutch versatility, rebounding dominance
  • Weaknesses: slow starts and early deficits, difficulty against top contenders, stagnant offense and isolation, weak transition defense
  • Injuries: Tyler Kolek-Out (right oblique strain)

Toronto Raptors Form (45-35)

  • They have gone 3-2 in their last five games, securing a crucial 128-114 victory against the Miami Heat on April 9, completing a two-game sweep of the Heat to bolster their playoff positioning.
  • In their last five games, they have been largely driven by high-efficiency scoring from their primary stars and elite ball movement, though they remain vulnerable to perimeter shooting struggles and fourth-quarter defensive lapses.
  • Strengths: star scoring power, elite passing and playmaking, offensive efficiency, interior dominance
  • Weaknesses: three-point shooting deficit, fourth-quarter collapses, struggles with Atlantic Division foes, and defensive consistency
  • Injuries: Collin Murray-Boyles-Game Time Decision (quad); Trayce Jackson-Davis-Game Time Decision (illness)

Key Players to Watch

New York Knicks

Point Guard Jalen Brunson is averaging 26.0 points and 6.9 assists, and is coming off a high-efficiency performance against the Celtics with 25 points and 10 assists. A dominant interior force, Center Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging a double-double with 20.0 points and 11.9 rebounds. In last night’s outing, he secured 16 points and 12 rebounds. 

Fresh off a game-high 26 points against Boston, Shooting Guard Josh Hart has been a clutch factor for the Knicks as of late. He also leads the team’s defensive and transition effort, recording five steals in a recent game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Facing his former team, Forward OG Anunoby is a defensive anchor, averaging 1.6 steals per game this season. Since returning to the rotation, Center Mitchell Robinson has been critical from rim protection, averaging 1.2 blocks per game.

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. Jalen Brunson (PG)
  2. Mikal Bridges (SG)
  3. OG Anunoby (SF)
  4. Josh Hart (PF)
  5. Karl-Anthony Towns (C)

Toronto Raptors 

Small Forward Brandon Ingram is the Raptors’ primary scoring threat, averaging 21.5 PPG this season. He is coming off a season-high 38 points in yesterday’s win over the Heat, where he also set a franchise record for points in a debut season.

Power Forward Scottie Barnes is the team’s defensive anchor and second-leading rebounder, averaging 18.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He has been highly efficient recently, shooting 62.5% from the field on April 7 and 66.7% on April 9 during the two-game sweep of Miami.

Returning to MSG, Shooting Guard RJ Barrett has been in a groove, averaging 20.3 PPG over his last 10 games. He recorded 22 points and 6 rebounds in his most recent outing against the Heat. Another former Knick, Point Guard Immanuel Quickly, facilitates the offense with 5.9 assists per game.

While his scoring has fluctuated since returning from a plantar fasciitis injury, he remains a key playmaker who recently had a 12-assist performance against the Knicks on March 3. Center Jakob Poeltl provides critical interior defense and rim protection. He will be tasked with containing Towns, who has mastered double-double performances as of late.

Projected Starting Lineup:

  1. Immanuel Quickley (PG)
  2. RJ Barrett (SG)
  3. Brandon Ingram (SF)
  4. Scottie Barnes (PF)
  5. Jakob Poeltl (C)

Can the Raptors’ Stop the Knicks?

The New York Knicks’ elite, top-three offense faces a Toronto Raptors defense that, while solid, has historically struggled to contain the Knicks’ versatile scoring threats. The Knicks enter as the favorites, having won 12 consecutive games against Toronto, including all four meetings this season by double digits. While the Raptors excel at facilitating, they have historically struggled against the Knicks’ disciplined defensive schemes.

Knicks Offense vs Raptors Defense

The Knicks rank third in offensive rating at 118.9 and second in points per 100 possessions at 116.9. They average 116.8 points per game, significantly higher than the 111.9 points allowed by the Raptors’ defense.

New York is one of the league’s best perimeter teams, shooting 37.5% from beyond the arc, which is 4th in the NBA. The Raptors’ defense often employs an aggressive help scheme that can leave wings like Anunoby and Bridges open for a high-scoring night.

Raptors’ head coach Darko Rajakovic has recently looked to improve their rim protection by pairing Poeltl with Murray-Boyles, aiming to better handle the Knicks’ interior scoring and rebounding.

Raptors Offense vs Knicks Defense

The Raptors rank second in the NBA in assists at 29.5 per game, showcasing a pass-heavy offense that relies on Barnes and Quickley to create open looks. They are a non-shooting team, ranking 22nd in three-point percentage at 35.1%.

This plays into the hands of a Knicks defense that is effective at contesting perimeter shots while prioritizing the rim. The Raptors rank fourth in points in the paint at 53.2 per game, but they face a Knicks’ defense that ranks third best at preventing interior scoring at 43.5 allowed per game. 

Head coach Mike Brown’s Knicks have held the Raptors under 100 points in three of their four meetings this season, including a dominant 119-92 win where they outscored Toronto by 31 points in the second half.

Prediction

Predicted Winner: New York Knicks

Projected Score: Knicks 118, Raptors 107

Win Probability: The New York Knicks have a 65.5% win probability for tonight’s game against the Toronto Raptors, according to ESPN Analytics.

Over/Under:  219.5 points

What to Expect in Tonight’s Matchup?

Fans should expect a high-stakes showdown as the New York Knicks aim to secure the number two seed in the East while the Toronto Raptors fight to clinch a guaranteed playoff spot and avoid the Play-In Tournament.

There should be a highlight on Brunson and Ingram, as both players are coming off elite performances the night before. Both teams are playing the second night of a back-to-back after winning games at home yesterday.