MONTREAL — On an evening when Toronto Raptors stars Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley weren’t carrying their fits, native favourite Chris Boucher attracted consideration in Montreal.
MONTREAL — On an evening when Toronto Raptors stars Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley weren’t carrying their fits, native favourite Chris Boucher attracted consideration in Montreal.
Boucher produced 13 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench because the Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 125-98 of their first preseason recreation on the Bell Middle on Sunday.
The longest-tenured Raptor went 5-for-9 from the sector in 17 minutes in entrance of “too many” family and friends in a sold-out crowd of 21,900 after the workforce held a camp coaching on the College of Quebec in Montreal all week.
“The followers help us, they hug us once we’re on the town and you may really feel their love,” Boucher stated of his second NBA preseason recreation within the metropolis. “It is onerous for me to not return the favor once they help me all the way in which. So I am comfortable that we received. I am comfortable that we performed effectively, in response to our requirements and that we have been in a position to give them a very good present.”
RJ Barrett led all scorers with 17 factors on 7-of-10 taking pictures in 14 minutes – all within the first half – earlier than leaving the sport with a bruised proper shoulder after hitting a display screen from Wizards large man Jonas Valanciunas.
Head coach Darko Rajaković stated Barrett would bear additional analysis on Monday.
Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Shead, Jahmi’us Ramsey and Jamison Battle added 10 factors every for the Raptors. Shead and Davion Mitchell mixed for 9 assists and one turnover with start line guard Quickley out.
Jordan Poole led Washington with 16 factors and 6 assists. Wizards Swiss-Canadian ahead Kyshawn George, whose father Deon is from Montreal, scored eight factors.
The twenty fourth decide on this 12 months’s draft acquired his first style of NBA motion in entrance of a pack of household within the stands, together with his grandparents.
“As superb as I imagined it could be, it was only a blessing to have the ability to play my first recreation in entrance of my household,” he stated. “It is also the primary time they’ve seen me play in actual life. So it is only a blessing total, and to then see them on the sector is simply unbelievable.”
Among the many raucous spectators have been newlyweds Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey of the PWHL’s Victoire de Montréal, four-time Canadian Olympian Natalie Achonwa and former Raptors nice Vince Carter.
Carter, who will change into the primary participant in Raptors franchise historical past to have his quantity retired on Nov. 2, obtained the loudest ovation of the night time.
“The world right here may be very large. Somebody informed me it has 21,000 seats. They’re very steep, so you may actually really feel the group all over the place within the workforce,” Rajaković stated. “Being right here in Montreal for a couple of days was nice.”
Barnes missed the beginning of camp for private causes and rejoined the workforce Saturday whereas start line guard Quickley is nursing a sprained thumb.
Boucher — who grew up within the Montreal North borough — additionally welcomed the Bell Middle as a hero when the Raptors performed an exhibition recreation towards the Brooklyn Nets in October 2018.
The Raptors final performed a preseason recreation in Montreal towards the Boston Celtics in 2022, however Boucher was out with a hamstring harm.
Boucher and George addressed the group from middle courtroom to warn issues earlier than the Raptors acquired going.
Led by Barrett and Dick, the Raptors opened on a 13-2 run lower than 4 minutes into the sport earlier than Boucher and George scored six minutes into the primary quarter to extra cheers.
Boucher’s dunk with 1:49 left helped the Raptors take a 34-16 lead after the primary quarter.
“We did not like our begin,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe stated. “The second quarter was a lot better, with a a lot better defensive mindset. The sport was up and down within the third for each groups, however we have been extra aggressive. However the begin actually made us “We have now rather a lot to be taught from this match.”
Within the second quarter, Boucher made a 3 whereas Barrett had two layups and a shot from past the arc as Toronto continued to run up the rating. The Raptors led 56-38 at halftime.
Boucher scored eight factors within the third quarter, however the Wizards lower the Raptors’ result in 15 on a number of baskets from Alexandre Sarr and George.
Each groups dug into their benches within the fourth quarter. Toronto’s Battle scored eight factors in a rush with two threes and a layup because the Raptors cruised to a blowout victory.
FOLLOWING
The Raptors will go to the Wizards in a rematch Friday earlier than a home-and-home sequence with the Boston Celtics on Oct. 13-15. They may end the preseason towards the Nets in Brooklyn on October 18.
Toronto opens its thirtieth anniversary season at dwelling towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 23.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed October 6, 2024.
Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
