The Knicks faced off against the Toronto Raptors tonight at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, in the final preseason game for both teams. In what often winds up being a game where starters minutes are limited and bench players get their final extended run, both teams played their starters deep into the game, delighting the packed house with an 83-80 Raptors win. 

The game represented the second preseason meeting between the Knicks and Raptors, and the third time the two teams have faced off in Montreal since 2010. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd, the energy in the building was high and the crowd gave the arena the sense of a regular season game.  

With José Calderon still nursing a strained calf muscle and the regular season just five days away for the Knicks, Derek Fisher chose to start Shane Larkin at the lead guard spot. That arrangement lasted all of two and a half minutes before Larkin, being tested by veteran Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, picked up his second foul and had to head to the bench. 

After an energetic first quarter which ended in a 24-24 tie, the Knicks turned up the defense in the second quarter with nine steals. Playing in front of his hometown fans, Samuel Dalembert looked energized as he collected nine rebounds in the first half. Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points on 6-of-12 from the field, and Stoudemire added seven to lead the orange and blue. Closing the half on a 15-2 run, the Knicks headed to the locker room up 46-38.

Toronto came out like a team possessed in the third quarter, shredding the Knicks defense going on a 19-2 run to start the period. DeMar DeRozan looked like the All-Star caliber player he showed he was last year. New York started the third quarter 1-11 and the eight-point halftime lead quickly turned into a 57-48 deficit. 

After falling behind by as many as 10, a Carmelo Anthony three-pointer and Prigioni steal and driving finish helped stem the tide. They chipped away at the lead until the 7:35 mark of the fourth quarter, when they tied the ball game at 68 on the driving finger roll by Tim Hardaway Jr., and quickly after took the lead on an Amar'e Stoudemire dunk. 

The Raptors responded with a 7-0 run, and Fisher was forced to call timeout. For the second game in a row, it was clear that the Knicks were treating it as an important final dress rehearsal, but there would be no Carmelo Anthony game-winner tonight, as Fisher sat him down the stretch. 

The teams traded baskets in the final minutes as the Bell Centre crowd rose to its feet and gave the teams a sustained standing ovation. A costly turnover by Shane Larkin led to two costless throws that put the Raptors up 81-78. 

The teams traded costless throws until the Knicks took the ball out under their basket with 2.8 seconds remaining trailing 83–80. Tim Hardaway Jr. took the inbounds pass and shot from well beyond the half court line and barely grazed the top of the backboard. The preseason had come to an end with the Knicks record at 3-4. 

Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points in 28 minutes, and Sam Dalembert and Quincy Acy both finished with 10 boards.  With four days of practice before the regular season begins, Coach Fisher will look to work out some final kinks before welcoming Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls to Madison Square Garden in the season opener on Wednesday night. 

The wait is almost over.  New York City is ready. 

Knicks Thoughts

With Fisher having all but announced that Calderon will start for the New York Knicks at the point guard, the battle this preseason has been Shane Larkin against Pablo Prigioni for the backup job. With Prigioni and Calderon having such similar styles it seems like a natural fit for Larkin to play the change of pace role for this team, but based on his three-point shooting and hustle this preseason, Pablo has surely made an impression on the coaching staff. 

Should Calderon fail to be ready for the regular season it will be interesting to see who gets the starting nod. The best news is we won't have to wait long to find out.