Lost weekend for Raptors after big defeat to rival Knicks

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For the first time as a Toronto Raptor, Brandon Ingram has looked overwhelmed and completely out of touch with the flow of a game and how he can best be impactful.

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Heading into Toronto’s back-to-back weekend set against the Charlotte Hornets and New York Knicks, Ingram was coming off a game where he buried the game-winner with 0.6 seconds left after pouring in a season-high 37 points two nights earlier.

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This week marks the one-year anniversary of the ankle injury Ingram sustained while with the New Orleans Pelicans, a setback that derailed his season. In some ways, he deserves the benefit the doubt, but in other ways there are no excuses for how badly he played in losses Saturday in Charlotte and Sunday in New York as the host Knicks cruised to a 116-94 victory.

Ingram was turnover-prone in Gotham and didn’t ooze the confidence he has shown this season in emerging as the Raptors’ go-to guy offensively.

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Early mistakes tough to erase

Down two starters and down by as many as 24 points, the Raptors showed an ability to fight back in making Sunday night’s tip remotely interesting. A more effective Ingram would have helped matters as well as a more intense defensive disposition from the Raptors, who three times had to call timeouts in the opening quarter.

Encouraging signs could be found in how Scottie Barnes continues to play at a high level and how rookie Collin Murray-Boyles played with force and energy against the Knicks, who improved to 10-1 at home. On the road, the Knicks aren’t as imposing, having won three of eight.

One of the Raptors’ biggest games in recent years will be staged at home Dec. 9, when they play host to the Knicks with a trip to Las Vegas at stake in the NBA Cup competition.

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Safe to say they won’t have such a wretched start as they did Sunday. Safe to say Ingram, who had more turnovers than baskets against the Knicks, will be much better as well.

Here are three takeaways from Toronto’s first visit of the season to Madison Square Garden, where things looked bleak early before the Raptors found their form, ultimately dropping their second straight after winning nine in a row.

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1. Three-Point Scottie B

When his feet are set, shoulders square to the basket and he’s stepping into heaves, Barnes is more than capable of draining threes.

Three minutes into the second quarter and Barnes had made his fourth three-pointer to tie a season high.

His three-ball proficiency ignited the Raptors, who were suddenly in a game that seemed lost minutes after the opening tipoff.

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A much-improved defence coupled with Murray-Boyles’s rebounding presence were other factors in turning a blowout into a competitive game. It also helped when the Knicks missed open looks.

Barnes missed his final three looks from distance to go 4-for-7 for the night.

2. Battle tested

For the first time this season, Jamison Battle was given the start as injury management was exercised with Jakob Poeltl.

Poeltl continues to deal with lower-back issues, a delicate needle to thread for the Raptors knowing he’s their one legitimate big who isn’t at a stage where he can play in back-to-back games.

In Saturday’s OT loss in Charlotte, Battle didn’t play. One night later, he was starting but didn’t do much.

Battle made 10 starts in his rookie season last year.

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For the second game in a row, Ja’Kobe Walter started for an injured RJ Barrett (knee) in a small lineup.

On Toronto’s first possession, Battle’s presence on the perimeter allowed the Raptors to spread the floor. He had a good look at the basket from the left baseline, but missed.

3. Misery in Manhattan

The Raptors went scoreless for five minutes 17 seconds Saturday in the fourth quarter against the Hornets, whose first lead came in overtime.

Against the Knicks, the Raptors didn’t seem to learn from their implosion. And forget about any fatigue factor.

Mental toughness is required and the Raptors, at times, have shown themselves to be mentally fragile.

Toronto trailed the Knicks by nine points when they called a timeout six minutes into the first quarter. When they came out of their huddle, the Raptors had Jamal Shead and Sandro Mamukelashvili on the floor in a clear attempt to inject energy into a lifeless group.

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Ingram’s fourth-quarter struggles in Charlotte carried over into Sunday’s tip on a night he missed his first five shots. His defence has been a total joke this weekend.

The Raptors’ defence was so bad Sunday that a second timeout was called with 2:47 left in the first quarter with the Knicks leading 32-17. A third timeout would be taken with the Raptors staring at a 38-17 hole.

Toronto had no clue how to defend New York’s penetrate and kick action that led to open looks and a lot of makes from beyond the three-point arc.

After one period, the Raptors trailed 41-22.

One night earlier, Toronto led by as many as 17 points and lost.

Up next

A big stretch awaits the Raptors, who begin a five-game homestand Tuesday night when Portland comes to town; the extended home stint wraps up Dec. 9 when the NBA Cup quarterfinal against the Knicks will be staged; note the 8:30 p.m. tip, the evening’s Cup nightcap that sees Orlando host Miami at 6 p.m.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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