After being traded to the Raptors for Marcus Camby after 10 years in the Big Apple, Charles Oakley returned to Madison Square Garden to play his old team. Oakley received a very warm reception from the crowd, getting a standing ovation when his name was called, and being cheered every time he hit a shot. Unfortunately, the encouragement wasn't enough to help him lead the Raptors to victory.
The game was pretty even through the first quarter, but New York put on a run early in the second to take a 10 point lead. Toronto fought back and it was a 1 point game at the half. Tracy McGrady didn't play at all: I don't know if he was being penalized for something or was hurt, but his loss hurt the team. Marcus Camby played well for New York, with 11 points and 12 boards in the game, and he was actually cheered when he left the game.
An inexplicable call by the zebras probably cost the Raptors any chance to win. Kevin Willis was given a flagrant foul and ejected from the game for pushing Knick guard Charlie Ward to the floor as the two became tangled up under the basket. The flagrant foul was questionable to begin with, as it looked like Ward flopped, but the ejection seemed completely unjustified, unless Willis said something to the officials. If he did, I didn't see it. The Raptors had already suffered another run by the Knicks to open the third quarter, and without Willis & McGrady, it seemed they had no chance.
In Willis' absence, John Thomas and John Wallace both got substantial minutes, as Michael Stewart slides further down the bench, having been invisible on the court in the minutes he has seen. Thomas looked quite good; maybe I was wrong about this guy! Toronto closed to within 5, but they could get no closer. Top scorer for the Knicks was Allan Houston with 20, while the Raptors were led by Vince Carter's 17. The Raptors return to the SkyDome for a chance to gain revenge on the Wizards.
Back to Schedule
