Knicks vs Raptors live stream: Watch online free 7:30 ET Friday in what New York is considering a mini playoff series as it is the first of a home-and-home.

The first stop will take place Friday night in New York between division rivals. This is being called a mini playoff series for the Knicks (9-19) vs Toronto Raptors (11-15) because if NY can get win Friday and then go into Toronto Saturday and leave with another victory, the Knicks would be in first place after what has been a letdown of a season.

Watch the free live stream online as the Knicks are coming off a blowout loss on Christmas in their own building vs the Thunder without Carmelo Anthony. Their star player remains questionable with an injured ankle going into these next two games. The Raptors are looking for their third win in four games, which includes victories in Oklahoma City and Dallas.

"If he says he's ready to go, then we'll put him in uniform and play him," coach Mike Woodson told ESPN.com.

Either way, New York has 11 losses already at home, only one season removed from a building that was hard to leave with a victory for the road team. The Knicks had 10 losses in 41 home games last year.

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"We got to get better," center Tyson Chandler told ESPN.com. "The first thing we have to do is individually, we have to take accountability. That's the only way we're going to turn this thing around."

This meeting will also be a chance to snap a three-game home losing streak.

"We got to seize the moment," Chandler said. "They're coming to our house, we got to feel good about playing in the Garden. The Garden is our home, and we got to embrace it. We got to give our fans a show, we got to give them something to cheer about. ... We got an opportunity that we got to take advantage of."

Another intriguing angle is that Andrea Bargnani will play against the team that selected him for the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He was traded to New York during the offseason. This will mark his first time playing against his former team and Saturday will be the first time he goes into his former building.