With the game coming on the 75th anniversary of the first game played in the NBA — officially the BAA back then — and serving as a rematch of the combatants, there already was a connection between the Toronto Raptors and the Knicks.
But there is a connection that crosses borders, too, in the form of RJ Barrett, who Raptors coach Nick Nurse had hoped could help lead the national team to Olympic glory. That goal fell short, but Barrett now has emerged as one of the stars that Nurse was trying to find a way to counter.