Veterans Day is a significant day for New York Knicks rookie Kevin Knox and his family.
Chris Iseman, Staff Writer, @chrisiseman
TORONTO — Kawhi Leonard wasn't the Knicks' biggest problem on Saturday.
The all-star forward had a relatively quiet performance, struggling to get into a rhythm offensively.
But the Raptors didn't need his scoring.
They found production from plenty of other sources on the way to a 128-112 blowout win over the Knicks at Scotiabank Arena.
Leonard had 12 points on 2-of-7 shooting, while Kyle Lowry had 10 points. But Pascal Siakam scored 23 points and Jonas Valanciunas had 19 off the bench.
Slowing down Leonard and Lowry wasn't enough.
"That was our focus, to really try to do a job on those two," Knicks coach David Fizdale said. "But that’s the sign of a good team. You take their two best guys and you do a decent job on them. You gotta pick a poison. And their role players really stepped up and made shots."
The Raptors, who shot 53.2 percent from the field, got off to a slow start and the Knicks took advantage, at one point building an early five-point lead.
But Toronto starting taking off in the second quarter and carried an 11-point lead into halftime. The Raptors shot 59 percent in the first half while the Knicks shot just 36.5 percent and were only 2-of-13 from three-point range.
The Knicks started the second half on a 12-4 run, buoyed by threes from Frank Ntilikina and Damyean Dotson, but the Raptors opened up a 10-point lead again midway through the third quarter.
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By the end of the period, Toronto led by 18. The Raptors scored 39 points in the second quarter and 36 in the third.
"That's why they’re so good," said Tim Hardaway Jr., who led the Knicks with 27 points. "The supporting cast, they come in the game and they take care of business. It’s simple as that. Came down there and they hit open shots. Got to the free throw line, defended pretty well. It’s just the third and second quarter, 60 or 70 points total in those two quarters, you’re not going to win."
The Knicks couldn't keep up, and they didn't even have to deal with Leonard at his best.
Entering Saturday, Leonard was averaging 26 points per game while shooting 49.3 percent from the field.
One positive for the Knicks was that Kevin Knox had 12 points in his third game back from his sprained ankle. He shot 4-of-11 from the floor, including 2-of-4 from the perimeter in 24 minutes.
New-look Eastern Conference
While the Raptors improved to 12-1 and sit atop the Eastern Conference, things got a little tougher Saturday with the Philadelphia 76ers acquiring Jimmy Butler from the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerrdy Bayless and a 2022 second-round pick.
The trade ends the months-long saga between the disgruntled Butler and the Timberwolves, but it also significantly strengthens the Sixers, who how have a "Big Three" of Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.
But from the Knicks' perspective, it's another free agent that's now unavailable.
The Sixers are reportedly planning to sign Butler to a long-term contract next summer, and Kyrie Irving has already committed to staying with the Celtics (of course that could change).
Leonard, though, still remains an option. For now at least.
While Toronto hopes to come to a long-term agreement with him next summer, there's no certainty that happens. And while he reportedly wants to play in Los Angeles, the Knicks are likely going to have the chance to make a pitch to him.
Time will tell whether they can bring in Leonard — or any marquee free agent next summer — as they try to become a contender in the future.
Regardless of what happens, the Eastern Conference got tougher on Saturday.
Email: iseman@northjersey.com