NBA

Bargnani endures boos in Toronto return

TORONTO — It could have been worse. A half-empty Air Canada Centre was the sight for Andrea Bargnani’s homecoming. The preseason crowd booed Bargnani whenever he had the ball, but he certainly didn’t “need earplugs,” as Raptors coach Dwane Casey had suggested.

In fact, the fans soon got bored with the boos, and they tapered off in the third quarter. There weren’t enough fans to spew the venom, and Bargnani finished with 10 points on 4-of-9 shooting with four rebounds in the Raptors’ 100-91 victory over the Knicks. Bargnani was 0-for-2 from 3-point land — and is now 0-for-5 in the first two preseason games.

“It’s not up to me,’’ Bargnani said of the chilly reception. “I think the fans have the right to do whatever they want to do. We had some good years here. It’s one game. It’s over.’’

Carmelo Anthony said he tried to set up Bargnani in the preseason opener in Providence, but Friday night Anthony was trying to light it up himself. Anthony had 20 points in the first half and finished with 24 in 25:15, often eschewing the pass to Bargnani.

At the morning shootaround, Bargnani was all plaudits about his stint in Toronto, trying to quiet the storm.

“I was lucky to play here seven years, great fans, great organization. That’s all I have to say, just positive stuff,’’ Bargnani said.

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The Knicks finish their three-game trip Saturday in Manchester, N.H., against the Celtics, and coach Mike Woodson said Anthony, Raymond Felton and Metta World Peace will not play. Pablo Prigioni will start at point guard, Iman Shumpert (4-of-11, 10 points Friday) and rookie Tim Hardaway Jr. will start. Hardaway had another smooth outing Friday, scoring 13 points on 5-of-11 shooting. He has 29 points in two preseason games.

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The Knicks visit Toronto again next week. The game originally was scheduled for the Garden, but it was decided late in the summer that the transformation there wouldn’t be finished, a source said. … Tyson Chandler (six points, 3-of-7) made another jump shot. He made one in the preseason opener, too.