Portland Path Blazers guards Shaedon Sharpe And Dalano Banton made a triumphant return to Canada on Thursday night.
Not solely did the Blazers received 112-103 in Scotiabank Enviornment, however Canada’s pair mixed 59 factors, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
Sharpe, born in London, Ontario, 119 miles southwest of Toronto, equaled his profession with 36 factors and added six rebounds and 5 assists.
Banton, born in Toronto and drafted by the Raptors within the second spherical of the NBA 2021 draft, recovered from a nasty first half to contribute 23 factors with two assists.
The 2 stuffed very important roles with the beginning chief Anfernee Simons (proper forearm ache) lacking a second consecutive sport. Banton began to the purpose and managed the group, whereas Sharpe additionally noticed important guard duties and helped to imagine the rating burden extra.
Dalano Banton # 5 of the Portland Path Blazers goes to the basket towards AJ Lawson # 0 of the Raptors of Toronto through the second half on the Scotiak Enviornment on April 3, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photograph of Mark Blinch / Getty Pictures)Getty pictures
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups Stated Sharpe, 21, did a wonderful job by managing the protection of Toronto strain whereas committing one of many 25 blazers reversals.
“I didn’t suppose that Shaedon had been accelerated in any respect, which is an unimaginable praise for a younger participant,” Billups instructed journalists. “And the way in which they put strain, they will make you troublesome.”
Billups mentioned Sharpe not too long ago excelled to decide on his locations whereas remaining aggressive. Throughout the victory of Tuesday night 127-112 in Atlanta, Sharpe scored 33 factors on 11 photographs on 25. Nevertheless, Billups appreciated the goaly fashion of the goalkeeper who produced 10 franc throws, of which he made eight. On Thursday, Sharpe pulled 14 out of 23 on the sphere.
“You aren’t going to do it each evening, nevertheless it’s simply the way in which you play, the intention with which you play,” mentioned Billups. “He additionally made the sport, additionally a troublesome rebound. I used to be very impressed by his sport.”
Shaedon Shared Sharpe n ° 17 of the Blazers of Portland Path transmits the ball towards Ja’kobe Walter # 14 of the Raptors of Toronto through the first half on the Scotiabank Enviornment on April 3, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photograph of Mark Blinch / Getty Pictures)Getty pictures
Banton too.
“Shae is unimaginable,” Banton instructed journalists. “I let you know the blokes on a regular basis, he has the potential to be probably the greatest on this league. I actually consider that. He’s an enormous younger expertise, probably the greatest creators to shoot the league for himself at a really younger age. He sees the video games.
Sharpe, a primary -round alternative in 2022, performed twice earlier than in Toronto. Final season, he scored 14 factors in a 99-91 victory towards the Raptors on October 23, 2023. As a recruit, Sharpe solely collected three factors in lower than 14 minutes in a defeat of 117-105 on the Raptors on January 8, 2023.
Banton noticed his first motion as a participant invited to Raptors.
He went to Toronto taking part in two seasons in Boston, however didn’t play. On Thursday, Banton went 0 out of 6 on a spread of three factors within the first half, scoring solely 5 factors. Within the second half, he pulled six out of 9 on the sphere for 18 factors, ending out of 8 out of 19.
When launched, Banton has acquired a powerful ovation from Raptors followers.
“It was unimaginable,” Banton instructed journalists. “I really like that my entire household may have watched me play. I had a gradual begin over there, however the guys continued to belief me, discovering me the ball, discovering me in the suitable place to proceed taking photographs, lacking or doing.
The Blazers (34-43) play at 5 p.m. Friday on the Chicago Bulls (34-42).
– Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronjFentress (Twitter), @AaronjFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Fb)
