Knicks recover after blown lead to beat Raptors 102-96

© Provided by Associated Press Raptors Knicks Basketball

NEW YORK (AP) — Julius Randle scored 26 points and the New York Knicks recovered after blowing an 18-point lead to beat the Toronto Raptors 102-96 on Sunday night.

RJ Barrett added 19 as the Knicks (27-27) won their second straight to get back to .500. Nerlens Noel finished with nine points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots.

New York led 66-48 early in the third quarter but lost momentum when the game was delayed because the court was wet. The Raptors surged to a four-point lead with 7 minutes remaining, but Barrett hit a 3-pointer with the Knicks leading by one with 35 seconds to play.

© Provided by Associated Press Raptors Knicks Basketball

Elfrid Payton and Derrick Rose each had 11 points for the Knicks, who snapped a nine-game losing streak to Toronto. New York had not beaten the Raptors since Nov. 22, 2017, at home.

© Provided by Associated Press New York Knicks’ Julius Randle, left, is guarded by Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, right, during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, April 11, 2021, in New York. (Rich Schultz/Pool Photo via AP)

Gary Trent Jr. had 23 points and Chris Boucher added a double-double with 17 points and 14 assists for Toronto.

Kyle Lowry finished with 19 points in his return to the Raptors’ lineup after missing five consecutive games with a right foot infection.

© Provided by Associated Press New York Knicks’ Nerlens Noel (3) attempts to block a shot by Toronto Raptors’ Khem Birch during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, April 11, 2021, in New York. (Rich Schultz/Pool Photo via AP) © Provided by Associated Press New York Knicks’ Julius Randle (30) is guarded by Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, right, during an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden, Sunday, April 11, 2021, in New York. (Rich Schultz/Pool Photo via AP)