Knicks Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win Over Raptors
Published at
Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images(TORONTO) — Carmelo Anthony had 30 points, eight rebounds and three steals to lead the New York Knicks past the Toronto Raptors Friday night, 108-100.
Amar’e Stoudemire had a season-high 24 points and 11 rebounds in the win.
The victory keeps the Knicks (34-45) slim playoff hopes alive. New York is two games behind Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with each team having three games left to play.
“We dug such a hole early that it’s been tough trying to dig out,” Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. “We’ve got to hope that Atlanta loses the next three and we win three. That’s the only way we have a shot.”
The Knicks also have to win their games. New York hosts Chicago Sunday, is at Brooklyn Tuesday and finishes off the season at Madison Square Garden against Toronto Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Raptors clinched the Atlantic Division title for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when the Hawks beat the Nets 93-88 later in the night.
“It felt great to win the division,” Raptors guard DeMarr DeRozan said after scoring a team-high 26 points in the loss. “I don’t think anybody would have picked us to win it, so that’s definitely a great accomplishment. We’re still anxious, we still want more”
If the playoffs began Saturday morning, Toronto would be the four seed in the East.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio