Knicks acquire Rose, then lose to Raptors

Mike James added 15 points and 10 assists and Morris Peterson had 21 points for Toronto, which has won three straight. Charlie Villanueva had 18 points and nine boards in his first career start for the Raptors, who prior to the game pulled off a trade with the Knicks.

Toronto sent forward Jalen Rose and a 2006 first-round draft pick to New York in exchange for center Antonio Davis.

"As part of our strategic plan, one of the top priorities to move this franchise forward has to be to get under the salary cap," said Toronto interim general manager Wayne Embry. "I’ve never seen a team rebuild itself without starting from that point. This trade presents the opportunity for us to acquire $10 million in cap room."

Eddy Curry had 17 points, five rebounds and five blocks to lead New York, which has dropped four straight and 10 of 11. Quentin Richardson added 13 points for the Knicks, who feel they get better with the trade despite the fact that Rose has one year and nearly $17 million left on his contract.

"Jalen is exactly what we need here," said Knicks head coach Larry Brown, who coached Rose in Indiana. "The kids can benefit from his backcourt play. I know what he can do. I think it’s a no-brainer that he can help."

Davis, who has seen limited playing time since going into the stands in Chicago to aid his wife, is signed just through this season. This is his second stint with the Raptors. He also spent four-plus seasons with the club starting in 1999.

Rose was on the Knicks’ bench for the game, but was inactive. Davis was not with Toronto.

The Raptors never trailed in the game, scoring the first seven points of the contest and using a 10-2 run to end the quarter to hold a 30-17 cushion. Ahead 20-15, Peterson spearheaded the quarter-ending surge with six points, as the Raptors held a 13-point advantage going into the second.

In the second, New York cut the deficit to 42-36, but Toronto responded with a 10-3 surge to forge ahead by 13 points, 52-39. Then, holding a 54-43 lead, the Raptors tallied eight straight points to make it a 19-point affair with a minute left in the half, 62-43.

Toronto held a 64-47 lead after 24 minutes of action and extended the cushion to 21 points, 75-54, a little less than midway through the third when Bosh connected on a pair of free throws.

The Raptors led 84-71 going into the fourth and never had their lead cut to single digits.

Toronto has won both games this season against New York and four straight dating back to last year.

Game Notes

New York played without point guard Stephon Marbury, who is nursing an injured shoulder...The Knicks fell to 4-18 on the road, dropping six straight as the guest...Toronto improved to 9-14 at home...Rose is expected to play for the Knicks on Sunday when they host the Houston Rockets...The home team has won 11 of the last 13 games in this series.