New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors Preview: How, Who to Watch in Brief MSG Stop

The New York Knicks will return for a brief recharge at Madison Square Garden against the Toronto Raptors before heading back on the road.

The New York Knicks are checking in on the house before embarking on a holiday road trip. 

With a five-game swing away from Madison Square Garden looming, the Knicks have a single chance to build some momentum as the Toronto Raptors arrive for a visit. It'll be the second matchup between the Atlantic Division rivals this month as the Knicks previously prevailed in a 119-106 final on Dec. 1.

New York is coming off consecutive losses that closed out its NBA In-Season Tournament slate, falling in the quarterfinal round to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday before dropping a 133-122 decision to the Boston Celtics in a de facto consolation game three nights later. 

Before embarking on what's tied for their longest road trip of the season, the Knicks will face the reeling Raptors, who have dropped five of their past six. Like the Knicks, Toronto has not played since Friday, as they fell to the Charlotte Hornets 119-116.

What: Toronto Raptors (9-13) @ New York Knicks (12-9)

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When/Watch: Monday, 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG

Who's Favored: NYK -4

Keep An Eye On: Isaiah Hartenstein

With Mitchell Robinson out for the foreseeable future, Hartenstein is poised to enter the starting five. While Robinson was producing near historic levels in the interior, Hartenstein has proven more than capable of picking up the load in case of emergency during his time in New York, to the point where his inclusion in the closing, rather than starting, was a point of contention on the Manhattan landscape. Hartenstein certainly picked up the slack when signs of Robinson's ailing first appeared in Boston, as he tied his career-best with 16 rebounds in defeat.

Raptor to Watch: Jakob Poeltl

Hartenstein's first challenge will come against Poeltl, who put up a dozen points and rebounds each during the aforementioned first meeting against the Knicks. He has hauled in at least 10 rebounds in six of his past 12 games and figures to be a recurring antagonist for the Knicks over the next few seasons considering his contractual security, rare amongst the current Raptors. 

They Said It

“I didn’t really feel a difference, to be honest with you. I’m just a basketball player. Put me with any lineup, I’m going to be me. I’m going to cut, I’m going to shoot some shots, I’m going to play defense. No matter what unit I’m with, that’s who I am and what I’m going to continue to be.”-Donte DiVincenzo on playing in the starting five on Friday (h/t Mark W. Sanchez, New York Post)

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Prediction

As valuable as Robinson has been in the early going, the Knicks have way bigger issues if there's a drastic drop-off without him in the lineup, especially on the scoreboard. The Knicks' issues against stronger competition remain troubling and it stands to reason that they'll miss Robinson over the next few months. All that being said, they should be able to get back on the right track against a Toronto group that feels destined to sell off its assets any day now.

Knicks 124, Raptors 113