When the Toronto Raptors journey to Madison Sq. Backyard to tackle the New York Knicks subsequent month, ESPN’s cameras will not be accompanying them.
A change on this planet chief’s home NBA schedule canceled the Knicks’ Jan. 8 sport towards Toronto, with its date changed by a conference-leading conflict between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
Along with being restricted to native airwaves, the sport will now begin a half-hour later, at 7:30 p.m. ET. So as to add insult to Canadian damage, this go to to New York was to be the Raptors’ solely look on ABC, ESPN or TNT this season.
Whereas there are many storylines to inform on this little-known divisional rivalry due to the battles on and off the court docket, it is simple to see why ESPN sought an alternative choice: Some see Cavs-Thunder as a possible playoff finals preview. the NBA, and what slightly star The facility that resided within the North took an enormous blow within the final match between the 2 groups.
Already mired in an agonizing rebuild that bid farewell to its 2019 championship group, the Raptors misplaced multiple sport when the Knicks visited Scotiabank Enviornment final week. The face of the native franchise, Scottie Barnes, contemporary off his first All-Star Sport look, injured his ankle when he collided with Karl-Anthony Cities in the course of a thriller.
Barnes left the sport in the course of the third quarter and is predicted to overlook “a number of weeks,” in keeping with ESPN’s Shams Charania. He joins Immanuel Quickley on the long-term damage checklist as the previous Knick and up to date long-term contract extension signee has been restricted to simply three video games this season.
new York gained the match 113-108regardless of a 30-point revenge effort RJ Barrett. This sport additionally welcomed OG Anunoby’s first return to Ontario since a December 30 commerce acquired his providers and people of Treasured Achiuwa in trade for these of Barrett and Quickley.
The Knicks have loads of unfinished enterprise to take care of within the meantime, beginning with Sunday’s showdown in Orlando (6 p.m. ET, MSG).
