TORONTO — At least in Friday’s loss the Knicks were competitive.
Saturday in Canada, they just crashed and burned.
Knicks coach Mike Woodson, supposedly now safe after owner James Dolan’s second vote of confidence, said before the home-and-home series against Toronto that nobody was running away with the Atlantic division he “expects’’ to capture.
Well, first-place Toronto now is starting to run away with the division after sweeping this home-and-home with the Knicks missing Carmelo Anthony at the wrong time.
The Knicks fell a fat five games behind first place after this 115-100 Canadian disgrace and a season-worst 12 games under .500. They finished 2013 at 9-21 and pick up in 2014 for a potentially ugly Texas Triangle trip Thursday in San Antonio.
“We’re on this rollercoaster trip and not playing consistently every night and the record shows,’’ Kenyon Martin said.
Point guard Kyle Lowry, close to wearing the orange and blue earlier this month as the Raptors and Knicks engaged in serious trade talks, torched the Knicks, scoring 32 points, dishing out 11 assists and grabbing eight rebounds, missing a triple-double by two boards.
After Lowry hit a final-second 3-pointer, appearing to add a little more salt to the Knicks’ wound, center Tyson Chandler started barking at the Raptors after the final buzzer and needed to be held back by assistant coach Herb Williams.
“I like the way we fought,’’ said Woodson, who almost sounded as if he accepted losing.
But Woodson certainly looked angry in the third quarter when the club fell behind by 21 points and had words with Iman Shumpert. Woodson benched Andrea Bargnani and Beno Udrih for the fourth quarter.
Bargnani, who said afterward he has been playing with a stiff neck the past 10 days, got booed loudly in his first regular-season game back in Toronto. But a foul-plagued Bargnani wasn’t active enough on defense and played just 18 minutes, scoring 12 points on 5-of-11 shooting with three rebounds and four fouls. He had little impact — just like in seven years in Toronto.
“We’re not going to win consistently until we defend and rebound the ball,’’ Woodson said, perhaps referring to Bargnani. “At this stage right now, I’m about guys that are going to play hard.’’
Asked why he benched Bargnani, Woodson said, “I rode Amar’e. He carried us and kept us in it.’’
Stoudemire was one of the few Knicks who showed up, scoring a team-high 23 points with nine rebounds.
“It’s not something to be proud of — this record,’’ Stoudemire said. “We just can’t get comfortable with this record.’’
Lowry dominated starter Udrih and rookie Tour’e Murry, who are playing because the Knicks are missing their top two point guards in Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni. In the first half, Lowry easily scooted past Murry for a layup and 14-point lead.
“Since he’s been in the league, he’s playing at the highest level I have seen,’’ Raptors coach Dwane Casey said.
The Knicks managed to cut the gap to six points with 4:03 left when Lowry supplied the daggers. Murry got frustrated after slipping to the floor and, reaching to grab at Lowry, tripped him up. Murry got charged with a flagrant foul and it resulted in a five-point play.
The giddy Toronto fans chanted “pizza” after Lowry hit a free throw that put the Raptors’ total at 100 with 5:10 left. That gave the fans free pizza at a local chain.
Toronto’s starting wing positions — the 1, 2 and 3 — outscored the Knicks’ 75-24. In addition to Lowry’s 32, Terrence Ross had 23 and DeMar DeRozan 20. Meanwhile Udrih had four turnovers and five points. J.R. Smith finished with just 13 on 5-of-16 shooting and Shumpert had a listless six points after going scoreless Friday.
The Knicks were outrebounded 45-37 and Bargnani was a culprit in not boxing out. Bargnani was booed vociferously during introductions and when he touched the ball — significantly louder than in his two preseason appearances.
“The things we need to concentrate on are the fundamentals of the game,’’ Chandler said. “That’s separating us from wins and losses. Fundamentals — boxing out, proper rotations, spreading the floor, executing the plays.’’
They also need bodies back.
“I hope so,’’ Bargnani said when asked if he expected Anthony back for the Texas trip. “I hope we can get everyone back — Carmelo, Pablo, Raymond.’’