The first thing that came to mind when the Toronto Raptors took the floor against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden was: how about no one gets hurt? 

It made sense that the Raptors didn’t play Immanuel Quickley on Friday night. He toughed out two games on his injured right foot against Miami this week, but he was on a minutes restriction and still looked to be in some discomfort after the games. Sitting him out on the second night of a back-to-back only made sense. 

And Collin Murray-Boyles sitting out with a sprained neck? He was in discomfort during the win over the Heat on Thursday – he had tape across his shoulder and had a heat pad on his neck during moments on the bench – so it’s not hard to imagine that stiffening up overnight. 

As for RJ Barrett being a late scratch to manage his left knee? That tracks, actually. 

Barrett’s right knee requires regular attention. He’s proven durable over his career, but periodic swelling in that knee is not uncommon. 

All of which to say is I don’t think the Raptors were trying to be cute with their lineup against the Knicks, who had all their regulars available save Mitch Robinson and Miles McBride. 

But the outcome was predictable as the Raptors fell 112-95 to New York, which improved to 5-0 against the Raptors as the two teams also met in the quarterfinals of NBA Cup play. 

The Raptors have now lost to the Knicks 13 straight times and lost all five games against them this season by double figures. 

If the current seeding holds up (more on that below) and the Raptors, as the sixth seed, meet the third-seeded Knicks, there is a scenario in which the Raptors could lose to New York nine straight times in a single season, which would have to be a record. 

It’s worth questioning why the Raptors played any of their key performers at all, given they could still control their destiny with a loss to New York and a win over Brooklyn Sunday.

Even healthy versions of the Raptors have been manhandled by the Knicks. Toronto struggles with New York's size on the glass and its ability to spread the floor with shooters at nearly every position. And when all else fails, the Raptors – like almost every other team in the NBA – can’t seem to stop six-foot-one point guard Jalen Brunson, regardless of who is........

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