Jalen Brunson propels Knicks to NBA Cup semifinals

The New York Knicks finally cleared the NBA Cup quarterfinal hurdle with a 117-101 win over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. After two consecutive failures at this stage of the competition, the Manhattan franchise secured their first ticket to Las Vegas and the tournament semifinals.

Jalen Brunson was the main architect of this historic qualification with a remarkable 35-point performance. The Knicks point guard set the tone from the first quarter by scoring 20 points, establishing his season high for a single period. He finished the game with an excellent 13 of 19 from the field and 6 of 9 from 3-point range, adding 4 assists to his stat line.

Qualification secured by halftime

Despite a sloppy start marked by numerous turnovers, the Knicks took control of the game in the second quarter. The Raptors, without Immanuel Quickley (illness) and RJ Barrett (knee), completely collapsed during this period, scoring only 13 points and missing 13 of their first 15 shots.

Josh Hart also shined with 21 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks on 8 of 11 shooting, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. His surge early in the second half allowed the Knicks to definitively extend their lead to 24 points. OG Anunoby proved valuable on defense with 2 blocks and 2 steals, stifling the Raptors’ offensive attempts.

New York already led 69-52 at halftime with an excellent 61% shooting percentage, practically sealing the game’s outcome. Despite 31 points from Brandon Ingram for Toronto, the Raptors never really looked like they could turn the tide, extending their fourth consecutive home loss.

The Knicks join the Orlando Magic, winners over the Miami Heat 117-108, in the NBA Cup semifinals. This qualification marks a turning point for a team that remains the only franchise to have reached the quarterfinals in each of the tournament’s three editions, but had never gotten past this stage until now.