The New York Knicks have extended their impressive winning streak to nine games after defeating the Toronto Raptors 120-103 on Saturday afternoon.
The last time this team enjoyed such a streak was when they made the postseason in 2013.
At this rate, they are trending back towards the playoffs.
All-Star Julius Randle had 31 points, and ten rebounds, and RJ Barrett supplemented his performance with 25 points and 12 rebounds in the victory.
Derrick Rose scored 19 points, leading the Knicks to their longest winning streak since their 13 game winning streak back in the 2012-13 season.
They also won the Atlantic Division title that year.
”We’re peaking, but we can still get a lot better,” Randle said.
”Obviously, offensively, we’re playing well, but defensively for a full 48 minutes, I feel like we can be a lot better.”
The Knicks have claimed the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference with 11 games left in the regular season.
With their recent play, New York has improved to 21-10 at home.
The crowd of almost 2,000 made sure to sound loud when Knicks basketball season is usually over by this time at Madison Square Garden.
”Since the fans have been back, it’s been amazing winning here,” Barrett said. ”They give us such a boost, and we’re really playing hard together because we want to make them proud.”
Knicks’ coach Tom Thibodeau had nothing but good things to say about Randle, who was on the bench when the Knicks broke the game open against Toronto on Saturday.
”That’s the best part about our team,” coach Tom Thibodeau said. ”Julius is our engine, but we have a lot of guys stepping up.”
New York finished the game shooting 56 percent from the field, 51.6 percent from the three-point line, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Knicks look to break into the postseason with homecourt advantage and a potential second-round matchup with their crosstown rival, the Brooklyn Nets.