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The Raptors completed their five-game stretch at home on Monday night as the New York Knicks visited Scotiabank Arena in the teams’ first meeting of the season.

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With no other NBA game on the schedule, all eyes were on the Raptors and Knicks, who played a convincing game that New York won 113-108, while Toronto lost its third straight game and fell to 2 on its home court :3 fell behind.

Scottie Barnes’ ankle injury in the third quarter stood out, but there were other consequences on a night in which the Raptors proved costly in five fourth-quarter games.

Just in time for RJ BARRETT

The Big Apple’s RJ Barrett, drafted third overall by the Knicks a year ago this month and then selected to his hometown team, bears little resemblance to the version currently starring for the Raptors .

With the Knicks, Barrett was primarily asked to cover the corner and take shots. He was able to expand his game with the Raptors and on some nights he takes on more of a ball-handling role.

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On Monday, Barrett played against his former team for the first time in Toronto. His numbers this season are better at home than away, where the Raptors have only won once.

Barrett’s game against the Knicks started well as he scored eight points in seven minutes. He saw the field for a total of 10 minutes in the first quarter and appeared confident and decisive when firing shots.

What was remarkable was the zero turnovers by Barrett, who was a bit too casual and careless with the basketball at times.

But when things go downhill, Barrett is a real all-rounder. In one sequence in the second quarter, he aggressively attacked the rim and scored with a deft finger roll.

He then turned to the announcer to record his second assist of the night and then scored his 15th point as the Raptors regained the lead and put an exclamation point on a 13-0 run.

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The Barrett show continued as he controlled a missed Knicks shot, pushed the ball up the floor and should have had an assist if Ochai Agbaji drained an open three-ball from the corner.

Barrett went into halftime scoring 17 points on 7-for-9 shooting as the Raptors led 61-60 at halftime. He was Toronto’s only starter to score in double figures in the first half

About three minutes before the end of the third quarter, he made his first trip to the foul line. He then converted an alley-oop pass from Ja’Kobe Walter into an emphatic flush and scored a game-high 30 points in the loss.

Rethink trading

The first shoe to drop as the Raptors began their entry into the Scottie Barnes era was OG Anunoby.

With all due respect to Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn, the key piece thrown overboard in the trade to New York was Anunoby. He fits well with the defensive-minded Knicks. On one possession Monday, he came out to block a three-point attempt from Barnes.

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Similar to Barrett, Anunoby’s offense was on display more frequently in New York. If he stays open in the corner, he will fire his shot without hesitation.

As a reminder, Anunoby played for the first time against the Raptors on Monday and scored 14 points but was just 2 of 9 from distance.

The one area of ​​Anunoby’s game that hasn’t changed since his time in Toronto is his inability, perhaps unwillingness, to take his man off the dribble and draw fouls. His first trip to the finish line came when he came off a screen and was fouled on a make by Barrett. Anunoby missed the ensuing free throw.

What makes Anunoby elite is his defense, which helped seal New York’s win when he suffered a block late in the game.

Achiuwa, meanwhile, brings an element of size to the Knicks. When he’s aggressive on the glass, he scores on putbacks. And every now and then he even knocks down a perimeter shot.

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Flynn, who the Raptors took in the first round, was an addition to get the finances in order. New York traded the point guard to Detroit.

The second player signed by the Raptors was Immanuel Quickley, whose second season in Toronto was plagued by injuries. It’s been a month since Quickley injured his elbow. While his condition remains virtually unchanged, a follow-up imaging exam is scheduled for next week.

The nature of Quickley’s injury makes it virtually impossible to speculate when he will be back in the lineup. The team is exercising patience for now as Quickley encourages his teammates from the bench.

Without Quickley, the Raptors don’t have a true veteran point guard available. In the absence of a commander in chief, Barnes was asked to orchestrate the act. At full court, Barrett’s attacking ability can be effective when he finds teammates in transition.

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Overall, the Raptors and Knicks pursue trades better, although one can argue that the Raptors actually did better because they acquired two starters.

YOUTH IS SERVED

Toronto’s young and inexperienced core has done quite well.

One player who has really stood out lately is Walter, who scored a season-best 19 points on Monday. The way he has played, one wonders why the kid isn’t in the starting unit every night, at least until Quickley returns, although such a move would logically mean moving Agbaji to the second unit.

Relive Walter’s first half against the Knicks. He was aggressive and equally confident, scoring 14 points in 11 minutes.

He made 6 of 12 from the field, including 3 of 7 from distance. In the fourth quarter, he sank his third three-pointer of the game, was fouled on the kickoff, but failed to complete the four-point play.

Regardless, it was a career night for Walter, who scored a season-high 19 points and continues to impress.

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