Fred VanVleet scores 35 as Raptors upend Knicks

Fred VanVleet scored 19 of his 35 points in the third quarter and the host Toronto Raptors defeated the depleted New York Knicks 120-105 on Sunday afternoon.

VanVleet was 7-for-13 in 3-point attempts and also had five rebounds and five assists in scoring more than 30 points for the second straight game.

Pascal Siakam added 20 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists as Toronto won for the second straight game.

OG Anunoby had 14 points, Scottie Barnes contributed 13 points and Chris Boucher scored 12.

Evan Fournier scored 20 points for the Knicks, who completed their road trip at 2-2. RJ Barrett and Obi Toppin added 19 points each, Quentin Grimes had 13 and Alec Burks 11.

Toronto's Gary Trent Jr. fouled out of the game with 6:18 to play in the fourth quarter with five points.

The Raptors have defeated the Knicks 11 straight times at home, including one in Tampa last season.

Toronto has won all three games between the teams this season.

The Raptors led by as many as 24 points in the third quarter and were ahead by 22 entering the fourth. The lead reached 25 on Siakam's two free throws with 5:55 remaining.

Toronto led 30-27 after the first quarter.

The Raptors opened the second quarter on a 15-1 run capped by VanVleet's 3-point shot with 6:23 to play. Burks cut the lead to 12 on a layup and free throw with 2:06 remaining. Burks made two free throws to complete the first-half scoring and cut the lead to 56-45.

Fournier's 3-point shot trimmed the lead to nine with 10:07 remaining in the third quarter. Khen Birch came back with a dunk and a layup and VanVleet added a 3-pointer to bump Toronto's lead back to 16 with 8:34 left. Siakam's layup with 3:08 remaining in the third capped an 11-0 Toronto run that increased the lead to 24. The Raptors led 96-74 after the third quarter.

Julius Randle, Nerlens Noel, and Mitchell Robinson were among the Knicks out because of health and safety protocols. Kemba Walker (knee) was also out.