TORONTO — The Raptors suffered their worst lack of the season, 129-92, by the hands of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Scotiabank Enviornment on Thursday night time.
Holding the very best file within the Western Convention and the very best defensive score within the league, the Thunder held a menacing maintain from begin to end, with the Raptors additionally with out beginning heart Jakob Poeltl. Toronto was held to 35 % capturing from the sphere, whereas the Thunder additionally compelled 19 turnovers, en path to accumulating 14 steals to associate with their 11 blocks.
The power with which OKC performed on protection helped gas sizzling streaks on offense, particularly in transition, exhibiting a method of play that the Raptors have tried to emulate this season.
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“There’s quite a bit to take a look at with this crew and be taught,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković mentioned. “The physicality they play with, how aggressive they’re…I felt tonight it was their protection that was turning the ball over for us.”
Rajaković particularly referred to as Montreal native Lu Dort one of the vital fearsome defenders within the league. Thursday night time was RJ Barrett’s task, which Dort held to 5-16 capturing and 1-7 from three for 17 factors, which was a team-high for the Raptors.
For Dort, he is a well-known opponent, having confronted one another since they have been 14 years outdated. Most just lately, additionally they frolicked enjoying collectively on Workforce Canada through the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, alongside Gilgeous-Alexander.
“RJ is sort of a brother to me,” Dort mentioned in his native French. “The best way he performs, he’s actually good in assault. All we are able to do is play with power and stop him from reaching his left hand, which is more and more tough as a result of he’s an entire participant.
It wasn’t simply Barrett who was struggling to maintain tempo. Raptors star Scottie Barnes completed with 12 factors on 5-13 capturing.
When it got here to their technique, nothing was totally different from how they performed different groups, says Gilgeous-Alexander, who was one among 5 Thunder gamers to throw a minimum of two steals, following the file of 30 factors from his crew.
“Present the crowds good gamers. Good actors, you strive to ensure they’re enjoying exterior of their consolation zone. Attempt to impose your will, don’t elevate them,” he mentioned.
Because the second quarter, the Thunder steadily held a 20-point lead, going 10-12 from three-point vary within the body. At 5:27 of the third quarter, the Thunder held their first 30-point benefit, after a steal from Cason Wallace, who capitalized with a fierce and-1 slam in transition.
Gilgeous-Alexander performed an important function within the Thunder’s sturdy begin, ending with 13 of his eventual 30 factors within the first quarter to push them to a 34-17 lead. He struggled from distance all through the sport, going 1-10 from downtown, however his command of the midrange was on full show, as he shot 10-12 from contained in the arc .
Gilgeous-Alexander in the end did not need to play within the fourth quarter, because the Thunder entered the ultimate quarter with a 34-point lead. The Hamilton, Ontario. The native additionally completed with a +28 plus/minus, as he loved enjoying in entrance of his dwelling crowd.
“It’s wonderful to play in entrance of people who find themselves from the place I’m from, who grew up the way in which I grew up, who noticed the identical issues that I noticed. It is like slightly connection that we share, though we have by no means met. It is cool. I’m proud to be Canadian,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned, noting he’s even seen faces of individuals he performed towards when he was 10 years outdated.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder indicators autographs for followers earlier than going through the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Enviornment on December 5, 2024 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photograph by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Pictures)
For the Raptors, they did not have a well-known face in Poeltl, who was out attributable to sickness. That is somebody they appeared to desperately want tonight to have an opportunity to compete. On the heart, he’s what Rajaković calls a “stabilizing pressure”.
The Raptors head coach mentioned the advantage of not having Poeltl was that it gave him time to see Jonathan Mogbo play huge minutes, because the rookie scored 17 factors off the bench, tied with Barrett.
“Jak does an awesome job of doing little issues, setting screens, rolling, rebounding, you understand, creating performs for different guys. That is what he sort of informed me… You simply need to be prepared, have that mindset, play your greatest and you may by no means know what is going on to occur,” mentioned Mogbo, who, together with three different rookies, had performed earlier within the day in a sport for the Raptors’ G League 905 crew.
One other younger participant who attracted curiosity was Gradey Dick, who returned to the lineup after struggling a left calf contusion that left him inactive for the previous 5 video games. He completed with 15 factors (4-8 from distance), whereas the Raptors stored him on a 25-minute restriction.
Primarily, the loss to OKC is a reminder that it is a rebuilding season for the younger Raptors. Outcomes like tonight will occur. If there was any proof that issues can enhance, they solely wanted to look throughout the sphere.
It wasn’t way back that the Thunder gained 24 video games within the 2021-22 season, even with Gilgeous-Alexander and Dort on the crew. In the case of what recommendation they’ve, the Montreal native had lots to share:
“It’s all about retaining your head up. It is not at all times straightforward, particularly while you’re dropping by 30,” Dort mentioned. “It is a course of, it takes time… It is the imaginative and prescient we had that obtained us to the place we’re right now. ‘right now and it was the gamers who held their heads excessive and realized each lesson they may.
The Raptors, who fall to 7-16, will look to place some classes to good use Saturday after they face one other Western Convention heavyweight, the Dallas Mavericks.
