The Raptors shot lights out for the game as they finished the game shooting 53 percent from the field and going 11-22 from three.

” You have to give them credit, they shot the living daylights out of us,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. We didn’t make them feel us out at all.

Andrea Bargnani led the way for Toronto in the battle of “Italian Stallions” against his fellow countrymen, Danillo Ganillari. Bargnani continued to light up the Knicks every time he plays them as he scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds.Bargnani looked to be on a mission on Italian Heritage Night right from the get go. Andrea scored 14 points in the first quarter and knocked down all four of his three point shots. He also added a monster dunk that had the Raptors bench in a frenzy.

“Bargnani had an unbelievable first half,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. Having said that, we started out very cold. We’re missing open shots, lay-ups, and everything. It took us a while to get into it. It’s stating the obvious, but that was the game.”

Chris Bosh, one of several high profile free-agents-to-be, added 18 points. After Bargnani’s great first quarter, Jose Calderon matched him with a second quarter that was just as great. Calderon took over the game at that point as he scored 14 of his season high 21points on 6 for 8 shooting on the field. Calderon’s three point jumper with just under 6 minutes left into the first half gave Toronto a 56-28 lead. The 28 point lead was the largest in the game for Toronto.

“Bargnani was on track and Calderon shot the ball great from the field,” David Lee said. “I’d say those are the two that hurt us the most. We came out and our jump shots aren’t coming down, tough first quarter.

Lee had himself another terrific game despite the difficult circumstances that troubled him this week.   Lee nearly had himself a triple double with 25 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists after playing one day after the funeral for his 92-year-old grandfather, E. Desmond Lee.

” I felt pretty fatigued going into tonight,” Lee said. Just got done traveling, it’s going to be another rough one tomorrow. We just had to give everything we had for the team tonight.

Al Harrington dropped a game-high 31 points off the bench for the Knicks, who lost for the third time in four games. Danillo Ganillari scored 26 points and was 5-for-10 from beyond the arc.

After a slow start that saw Danillo miss all four his first quarter shots, he would find his game after that in the second. Gallinari hit three straight shots on three consecutive trips down the floor including a scoop shot, 3-pointer and another jumper. Gallinari hit a three at the buzzer to finish the first half with 13 points but the Knicks were down 67-43.

New York finally found their way in the second half as they were able to trim 28 point lead all the way to nine in the third quarter after Al Harrington’s three pointer with 32 seconds left. However, DeMar DeRozan scored the final four points of the quarter and gave the Raprtos a 93-80 lead after the three.

But New York would not go down without a fight cut it to 93-85 on a 3-pointer from Nate Robinson early in the fourth. But that was as close the Knickerbockers would get as Jose Calderon hit back-to-back jumpers to push the lead back to 99-85.

New York will travel to Detroit tomorrow night in the first game of a home and home with them. The Pistons will come to the Garden on Monday afternoon in the Knicks annual Martin Luther King Jr. game. The Knicks blew out the Pistons the last time they played with a 104-87 victory.

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Naturally the assembled baseball media was more interested in getting a perspective of roster moves Cashman was looking at in a short off-season. It is barley three weeks since the Yankees won their 27^th world championship and there are some issues to address before spring training commences down in Tampa Florida in mid February.

“We haven’t game planned yet,” said Cashman dressed in casual attire, not typical for a Red Carpet type of affair. He recently completed organizational structural meetings with team brass and it may be too early as to making major decisions. What to do with the contracts of Johnny Damon, World Series MVP Hideki Matsui and pitcher Andy Pettitte?

And do the Yankees go after some of the high powered free agents that ate available, such as pitcher John Lackey, or trade for an outfielder, or acquire the highly sought Matt Holliday off the free agent market? “We’re going through everything that transpired in the meetings,” said Cashman. “Once I get some firm numbers, I can go ahead and start putting together some ideas,” he said.

Those ideas become interesting, because the Yankees seem to be solid at every position, with the exception of course in the outfield when it comes to the futures of Damon and Matsui. Then there is the obstacle of finding a viable fourth starter as Chien-Ming Wang  continues to rehab from right shoulder surgery.

“I had a couple of agents call me,” said the GM with a smile. There is reason to smile. Players on the market know coming to New York increases their chances of getting a ring, because the Yankees are willing to spend. But how much will it take after Cashman and company spent about a half billion in payroll, last off- season to get pitchers CC Sabathia, A.J, Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeira?

Cashman alluded to making the right decisions when it came to the financial aspect of getting the top three, players that no doubt were a vital contribution to the Yankees success. “I am real pleased at the financial aspect of last winter,” he said. “It puts us in a much better position than before.”

So the Yankees will shed more salary without Matsui, leaving them the ability to re-sign Damon Their six years of futility to get back on top was done with their core of veterans, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada and of course, Pettitte, who became the all-time post season pitcher with most wins after the game 6 clincher against the Phillies.

There was also the mix of players that came together, with some new and returning players that stayed healthy.  To that Cashman said, “Truthfully we won with older guys and stayed healthy.” In particular he mentioned the healthy year that came from Posada and Matsui..

“With the exception of Wang and Nady (Xavier) that’s why we are here today,” he said about the Yankees overall staying free of injuries and getting the contributions they needed.  Nady is one of the options the Yankees have for the outfield, if indeed they decide to tender him a new contract.

So getting younger and reducing payroll also can enable the Yankees to obtain another high caliber type of player off the free agent market. In particular Cashman will take a look at outfield prospect Austin Jackson, and maybe take someone out of the bullpen and make the conversion to starter.

“Do we promote Austin Jackson and way do we do at DH,” said Cashman who was anxious to see the 80 minute DVD that captures the Yankees run to another championship and their post season success.  “Do we get younger, that remains to be seen,” he concluded.

And as Cashman and Girardi posed in front of their new World Series trophy they know the task is ahead to defend the title and get number 28.

e-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com