The Knicks have reached this point twice previously. Each time, they lost in the quarterfinals of the opening two installments of the NBA Cup.

Even though he isn’t dwelling on the defeat to Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2023 or the infamous Trae Young dice roll on the MSG midcourt logo a year ago, Jalen Brunson understands the consequences of falling again Tuesday night in Toronto.

No win, no Las Vegas.

“The dice roll is not in my mind. The past is the past. But there has to be a level of urgency,” Brunson said. “This isn’t a series. This is one game. This is win-or-go-home, so we got to be ready to go. There is no easing into this.”