Toronto Raptors Roundup is a weekly segment where we fill you in on all the games, highlights and stories from last week. Here’s what you missed from the sixth week of the season.
The Toronto Raptors had another great week going 4-0, albeit against some weaker competition. They took care of business both on the road and at home against teams they should be beating.
This week saw the return of both OG Anunoby and C.J. Miles from injury and strong play from both the leaders and the bench. We saw former Raptor great (villain), depending on the narrative you subscribe to, score his 25,000th point with a dunk against his former team. And we saw Spurs coach Greg Popovich take a shot at Raptor Kawhi Leonard’s leadership style.
Game Recaps
Toronto at Orlando
It was a game of being both really good and bad.
Take Danny Green for example. On the second last play of the game, he allowed his man to blow by him for a contested dunk to tie it up with two seconds remaining with a foul to give.
On the very next play, Green hit the game-winner with less than a second left. Redemption.
The Raptors as a whole were very good for three quarters of the game but we’re downright awful in the third quarter where their defence couldn’t stop anyone.
They gave up an 18 point lead during that stretch, partly due bad defence but also due to some cold shooting.
Kawhi Leonard dropped 18 points while Pascal Siakam had 15 points. Serge Ibaka continued his strong play adding 14 points and nine rebounds.
The Raptors may have been lucky to sneak away with the 93-91 win on this night, but on a night like tonight, they’ll definitely take it.
Toronto at Atlanta
Vince Carter, at 41 years of age, against his former team and the team he made into what it is today, scored point number 25,000. With a dunk.
Unfortunately for the Hawks, it was the only bright light. The Raptors beat them handily 124-108.
With Kawhi out again on the second game of a back-to-back, it would have to fall on someone else’s shoulders to do the heavy lifting.
Cue the kid from Philly.
Lowry was unstoppable. He finished with a triple-double, scoring 21 points, adding 17 assists and 12 rebounds. Lowry finished the game with a plus/minus of +29.
Lowry was also able to get his teammates going, particularly Jonas Valanciunas who got the start against Dewayne Dedmon. Nurse’s ability to switch who starts at centre has been effective this year as Valanciunas played strong, finishing with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
A late run by the Hawks was ended as soon as Kyle returned, though Nick Nurse probably would’ve liked to give Lowry the fourth quarter off.
The Raptors end the road trip 3-1 and stayed undefeated on the second game of a back-to-back to back, now 5-0.
Washington at Toronto
You never know what you’re going to get when you play these Washington Wizards.
After a disastrous week that saw plenty of leaked in-fighting, the Wizards came to town looking to figure out how to right the ship.
Astute Raptors fans have seen these Wizards before and would never assume victory as the combination of Bradley Beal and John Wall can go off at any time.
And it wasn’t an easy victory for the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors gave up a 16 point first half lead only to gain it back with excellent defence in the second half.
The Raptors were too much on this night, led by Kawhi Leonard who was brilliant scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
“A guy like that, you hardly even know they’re pouring them in like that sometimes,” coach Nick Nurse said of Leonard. “Gosh, again, 12-for-22 (shooting), that could really easily have been 16-or 17-for-22 … so I still think there’s going to be a night when we’re in here talking about his 19-for-22.”
Kyle Lowry added 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Raptors bench showed that they still might have the potential to be one of the best in the league, completely outplaying the Wizards bench, outscoring them 59-39.
The Raptors boosted their record to a league-best 16-4 with the 125-107 victory.
Miami at Toronto
Anyone worried about the last time the Raptors played a complete game? Was it Chicago?
Once again the Raptors started strong, only to have a weaker middle part of the game and give up another big lead. A depleted Heat team looked outmatched until the Raptors let them back in the third quarter. The Raptors turned it on in the fourth to put away a struggling Miami team 125-115.
Fatherhood must suit Dwayne Wade as he was brilliant against the Raptors scoring 35 points adding 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He nearly single-handedly kept the Heat in this game, a game that might make him re-consider retirement after this season.
Kawhi Leonard was excellent with 29 points and nine rebounds, bringing the defence when it mattered. Pascal Siakam was impressive with 21 points and 6 boards while Jonas Valanciunas, who got the start, played well scoring 17 points adding 10 rebounds.
The Raptors will have to look to be better for a full game as they face off against a surprisingly improved Memphis team next and the champions from Golden State next week.
The Week Ahead
Toronto at Memphis
NBA fans would be lying if they said that the Memphis Grizzlies, complete with a philosophy that’s based around a stingy, gritty defence, and not a three-point happy (trend following) offence, would be 12-6 at this point and first in the Southwest.
But the “grit and grind” defensive style led by coach Lionel Hollins is different from the rest. And it works. The Raptors will have to be solid on this rare one-game road trip to emerge with a victory.
Golden State at Toronto
Will Steph Curry play? That is the question that certainly is on the minds of the Warriors who have faltered since their All-World shooter has been out. Along with an injury to Draymond Green, the Warriors lack of playmaking, beyond their two injured all-stars, have many wondering if a Warriors weakness has been exposed. Coupled with some public in-fighting and speculation about future destinations for future free agents, Warrior fans have experienced more stress this year than they have in the past several.
The game will be an excellent test for the Raptors who have faced mostly weaker competition so far and see a schedule that increases in difficulty over the next week and a half.
Cleveland at Toronto
Are the Cavs tanking? Recent victories against Philly and Houston would tell you no. If you ask the Cavs, I’m sure they’d say the same thing.
The team has shown fight and a will not evident in teams that are playing for a pick. Now, the Cavs aren’t going to win many games this year, but they will be in a lot of them right to the end. Improved play from Jordan Clarkson, who has earned the trust of coach Larry Drew when it comes to ‘clutch time’, has helped the Cavs steal a couple from some good teams. If the Raptors can’t put the game away early, watch for the ball to be in Clarkson’s hands late in the game.