Raptors reach new low with worst home loss in franchise history

Article content

After that of Tuesday evening crushing 139-98 loss to the New Orleans PelicansThe Toronto Raptors have achieved another first in the team’s nearly 30-year history: the worst home defeat in franchise history.

Article content

Until this week, Toronto’s worst home loss was a 126-86 drubbing of the Orlando Magic on March 29, 1996, at SkyDome, near the end of the Raptors’ inaugural season.

Article content

As a lackluster crowd looked on, Zion Williamson scored 16 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as he dominated a depleted Raptors team without a star forward. Scottie Barnes (hand surgery), starting center Jakob Poeltl (torn ligament) and reserve guard Bruce Brown (right knee inflammation).

After Williamson drew cheers for a quick dunk in the second quarter, the power forward floated the idea of ​​joining the NBA dunk contest next year.

“I have to do my part and participate in the all-star game” said the fourth year player. “If I make the All-Star Game, I’ll take part in the dunk contest. If I don’t do it, I won’t do it.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Asked if it was part of Raptors history, the Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III called it “just another day at the office.”

Williamson wouldn’t even credit himself for having the best dunk of the night. This award he gave to Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans, who threw a one-handed jam on Jontay Porter.

“You have to give to BI,” Williamson said. “He hit them with the cross, knocked that person out of the picture, and then he dove at someone.”

Article content

But besides being able to watch the highlights thanks to Williamson and Murphy III’s season-high 34 points, Raptors fans on social media lamented the team’s slide.

“I have lost all hope,” one person wrote on a Reddit page dedicated to the team, with another calling it a “disgraceful performance even with Barnes injured”.

“Fans have called for a rebuild. No one expected destruction until the founding of 1995,” a third fan ruthlessly joked.

A fourth called the loss a “demolition”.

Article content

Sportsnet’s Michael Grange piled on an X article that said: “The Raptors avenged their worst loss of the season – by 38 against New Orleans a month ago – by losing by 41… at home. Yeah… “

With the Raptors down by more than 30 points in the fourth quarter, fans begged head coach Darko Rajakovic to insert Chris Boucher, Toronto’s final member of his 2019 NBA championship team, into the lineup. Chants of “We want Boucher!” » began in the lower bowl, where many seats remained empty, and progressed to the 300 level.

Sitting near the end of the Raptors bench, Boucher never reached the floor.

One fan sarcastically chastised Rajakovic on »

The club now heads to Phoenix where it will face Kevin Durant’s Suns, who are seventh in the Western Conference and are coming off a 117-107 overtime victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.

[email protected]

Article content