The New York Knicks suffered a heavy loss in their latest preseason game, falling 148-98 to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena. The defeat marked the Knicks’ fourth consecutive preseason loss, continuing a trend of struggles as they experiment with roster configurations ahead of the regular season.
Knicks coach Mike Brown elected to rest key starters and several veteran reserves, including Landry Shamet, Andre Drummond, and Jordan Clarkson, as the game was the second half of a back-to-back schedule. Instead, Brown fielded a lineup featuring Josef Alvarado, Miles McBride, Mohamed Diawara, Bruce Brown, and James Wiseman in the starting five. The rest of the rotation included Drew Eubanks, Tyler Nickel, Pacome Dadiet, Tony Bradley, Ochai Agbaji, Kevin McCullar Jr., Tyler Kolek, and Jaden Akins.
Meanwhile, the Raptors played their regular starting lineup, which now features Kawhi Leonard, recently acquired to bolster their roster. The imbalance showed early: the Knicks reserves fell behind by 20 points after the first quarter, with the deficit expanding to 38 by halftime. Toronto dominated the paint and transition game, scoring 15 second-chance points and 30 fast-break points in the first half alone.
Brown downplayed the significance of the lopsided score, emphasizing a focus on "doing the right things to be better." However, he expressed disappointment with the team’s defensive effort, specifically their failure to contest rebounds and prevent fast breaks.
Among the Knicks’ lower-profile players, Wiseman stood out as a rare positive. The former top prospect recorded a double-double, scoring 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting and grabbing 10 rebounds, including four offensive boards, over 23 minutes of play. His extended playing time over more established veterans like Eubanks and Bradley may signal where the team views him in the positional pecking order despite his recent injury history.
Wiseman’s career has been marred by significant injuries. His rookie season was curtailed by a torn meniscus, with the injury sidelining him for his entire sophomore year. More recently, after signing with the Indiana Pacers, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the 2024 season opener, limiting him to five games over two years.
The Knicks, currently searching for roster clarity, are also assessing their forward depth, with Bruce Brown and Ochai Agbaji competing for roles. Brown acknowledged ongoing efforts to sign a center to strengthen the frontcourt but indicated that the team might pursue a trade to open roster space to keep both big men and wings.
As the regular season approaches, New York faces decisions on its rotation and roster composition, with preseason results offering mixed insights into the team’s readiness and player roles.