If the Toronto Raptors want to enter the NBA play-in tournament without star Scottie Barnes, they will have to trust themselves and each other.
Ochai Agbaji started in place of Barnes and scored 13 points with a career-high nine rebounds as Toronto held off the Charlotte Hornets 111-106 on Sunday. The victory comes two days after Barnes broke his hand during a 120-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
“I think the best thing to do is not put pressure on yourself,” Agbaji said of starting in Barnes’ absence. “Easier said than done, obviously, but you just have to trust (head coach Darko Rajakovic).
“Trust him, whatever you do out there, he fully supports you. You build his trust just by going out there and playing hard and if you do that and you make mistakes 100 miles away hour, he should be good with that.”
Agbaji has averaged 5.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 13.9 minutes per game since being traded alongside center Kelly Olnyk from Kamloops, B.C. to Toronto from the Utah Jazz on February 8. a raptor.
“Never take any opportunity that presents itself, whether it’s five minutes, 30 minutes, whatever, just being in that position, I think that’s where I want to be and making the most of it, that’s what what I’m trying to do,” Agbaji said.
Immanuel Quickley had a double-double with 22 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds as Toronto (23-38) ended a two-game streak to gain a half-game win over the 10th-place Atlanta Hawks for the last play-in spot in the East.
The idle Hawks are 3 1/2 games ahead of the Raptors.
“The mindset just has to be to come in every day and give it everything you have with a lot of effort and a lot of attention to detail,” Quickley said. “Everyone talks about the outcome of the plan, but I think if you put everything you have into it every day, I think that’s the most important part.
“We also have to go out and compete, but just going out and whether it’s practice or game or film session, just being present in that moment and trying to get better at that moment is a big part of victory.”
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 23 points and nine rebounds, while Gary Trent Jr. added 17 points for Toronto.
The undermanned Raptors were dealt another blow when starting center Jakob Poeltl left the game late in the first half with a dislocated left pinky finger. Guard Bruce Brown also missed the game with right knee inflammation.
Rajakovic told Quickley and Barrett before the match that they didn’t need to shoot more with Barnes.
“You’re both great players,” he said. “You’re going to make your shots in the game, let them come naturally and make sure we have good ball movement.”
Miles Bridges came alive in the third quarter to finish with 20 points as Charlotte (15-46) lost its fourth straight game. Brandon Miller and Grant Williams each had a double-double, with Miller scoring 26 points and pulling down 10 rebounds and Williams having 18 points with 13 rebounds.
Although Poeltl’s departure just before halftime allowed Bridges to drive to the basket — he scored 16 of his points in the third quarter alone — the Raptors were not slowed. Trent had 11 points and Barrett added seven points in the quarter as Toronto took an 82-75 lead.
Williams scored eight straight points in the final four minutes of the game to bring the Hornets within two points. Davis Bertans then scored a three-pointer to make it 103-102 Charlotte.
Quickley made two free throws with 57 seconds left to regain the lead.
With the 19,512 spectators at Scotiabank Arena chanting “DE-FENCE!” » Barrett got a defensive rebound and Quickley was fouled after dribbling the ball at half court. Quickley made the ensuing two free throws to make it 106-103 Toronto with 24.6 to play.
On Charlotte’s ensuing possession, Bertans hit a three-point attempt off the rim and Quickley got the rebound, immediately drawing a foul. Once again, he made both free throws.
Williams was fouled as the Hornets tried to score and made his only free throw. Miller drove to the net for an uncontested layup when Charlotte finally got inside and Trent was fouled on Toronto’s possession. He made one of his two free throws, then stole the ball for an easy layup for the final score of the game.
Following
The Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Charlotte hosts the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 3, 2024.
