Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points, Fred VanVleet had 17 points and 11 assists, and the Toronto Raptors won their 10th straight home meeting against New York on Friday night, beating the Knicks 90-87.

Scottie Barnes had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds and Pascal Siakam had 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who let a 20-point first quarter lead slip away but held on to win their third in four games.

Toronto has held its opponent below 100 points in four of its past five games.

Also read: NBA: Indiana Pacers pull away late to beat Dallas Mavericks 106-93 without Rick Carlisle

“Coach has been harping on defense,” Trent said. “We’ve been working at it, we’ve been getting after it. Every day when we come in, we’re putting the pieces together, slowly but surely figuring it out.”

The Knicks’ Obi Toppin scored a career-high 19 points and added 10 rebounds, Julius Randle had 13 points and 14 rebounds, and RJ Barrett scored 19 points.

New York trailed 30-10 less than 10 minutes into the game and lost for the sixth time in their past eight.

“It’s a shame not to come out of here with a win, but the way we started the game really hurt us,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.

Also read: NBA: Stephen Curry close to breaking Ray Allen’s three-pointer record

The Knicks also fell behind by double digits in the first half of Wednesday’s loss at Indiana.

“We’ve got to have our intensity going from the beginning of the game,” Barrett said. “We can’t let teams come in and hit us first before we decide to wake up and play.”

Barrett’s 3 with 2:48 remaining brought the Knicks to within three at 86-83, and his driving shot on the next possession made it a one-point game with 2:05 to go.

Also read: NBA: Memphis Grizzlies ride second-half push to 108-95 win over Los Angeles Lakers

After Trent committed an offensive foul, Derrick Rose made a jump shot to give the visitors an 87-86 lead, but Trent’s 3 with 1:11 left put Toronto back on top, 89-87.

Trent’s big shot came after Barnes grabbed the rebound on VanVleet’s miss. Toronto finished with 48 rebounds to New York’s 55.

“We outrebounded them but we gave up costly ones when it counted the most,” Thibodeau said.

Both teams missed shots before Randle’s potential game-winning 3 rimmed out with 3.2 seconds to play. Trent was fouled and made one of two, putting Toronto up 90-87 with 0.6 seconds to go. Barrett got a shot off before the buzzer, but it fell short.

Also read: NBA: COVID-19 concerns prompt Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors to cancel practices

“Definitely a great look for what we had on the clock,” Barrett said.

Siakam shot 3 for 13 in the first half, and finished 3 for 18, but went 7 for 8 at the line.

“Just one of those nights for him, not quite knocking them down,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “But I thought he played a really good game.”

Also read: Unlike in today’s NBA, no safety net for prep stars in 1970s

The Raptors led 31-14 after one, with five of their nine made baskets coming from 3-point land. Things changed in the second, and Immanuel Quickley’s 3 with 4:43 left in the half capped a 29-9 Knicks run over two quarters that tied the score at 39-39. Siakam scored the final four points of the half, and Toronto led 50-42 at the intermission.

The Raptors took a 69-65 lead to the fourth.

Tip-Ins

Knicks: New York’s most recent road win against Toronto was a 111-109 victory on Nov. 10, 2015, when the referees missed Knicks star Carmelo Anthony step out of bounds on a pivotal play late in the game. … Knicks starters Noel and Alec Burks went scoreless in the first half. … Rose scored 11 points.

Raptors: New York’s bench had 20 points in the second, outscoring Toronto’s entire team (19 points). … All five Raptors starters scored 10 or more points. … Toronto was without forward OG Anunoby (left hip) and center Khem Birch (right knee) for the 11th straight game. Center Precious Achiuwa (sore right shoulder) missed his second straight.

Up next

Knicks: Host Milwaukee on Sunday.

Raptors: Host Sacramento on Monday.