Toronto Raptors 119, New Orleans Pelicans 93
The skid is lastly over.
After beginning the season with a franchise-worst 0-10, Toronto lastly obtained over the hump on Wednesday evening. It wasn’t a very fairly basketball sport — definitely not within the first half — however the Raptors ran away with it within the second half because of a 31-point third quarter.
New Orleans could not do a lot with out 4 of its 5 finest gamers. At one level late within the first quarter, Daniel Theis missed two passes, Jordan Hawkins dribbled the ball off his foot and CJ McCollum scored three factors on one possession. It is the type of catastrophe that sums up what has been a horrible begin to the 12 months for New Orleans, who turned sole house owners of the NBA’s third-worst file – behind Toronto – with this defeat.
Raptors coach Darko Rajaković was fairly blunt in his evaluation of Ochai Agbaji’s efficiency with zero factors and one rebound Monday evening. Merely put, Agbaji wanted to be higher and Rajaković made that identified.
So how did he react?
With a season-best 24 factors and 4 rebounds in 28 minutes. It was precisely the type of exhibiting the Raptors wanted from Agbaji who linked on 6-for-7 on three-pointers, together with three within the second quarter as Toronto mounted a 14-0 run to placing the Pelicans in a deep gap early on.
Agbaji has gone two straight video games with out making a three-pointer and whereas he does not must be an elite three-point shooter to be efficient, he must be a risk. Wednesday confirmed as soon as once more that he is taken massive steps this season towards turning into the type of two-way participant Toronto had hoped to develop into.
With Gradey Dick out, Toronto opted to go together with first-round rookie Ja’Kobe Walter within the beginning lineup towards New Orleans. It was a option to get a bit extra three-point taking pictures within the beginning lineup whereas permitting Davion Mitchell to return to a bench function because the lead level guard on Toronto’s second unit.
Walter opened the sport with a nook three-pointer to get the Raptors on the board and appeared strong in his 27 minutes. What was most spectacular in his restricted minutes was how he was in a position to affect the sport as a rebounder. It is clear the 6-foot-4 guard has a nostril for the ball and is able to win it again. He completed Wednesday with 14 factors and 11 rebounds.
Jamison Battle can positively shoot.
It has been some time since Toronto discovered a rotation participant on the undrafted free company market and whereas it is definitely too early to say that Battle has confirmed something at this stage, he is definitely rotating the heads. The 6-foot-7 wing can prove the lights, getting into Wednesday’s sport changing 38.5 p.c of his three-point photographs. That quantity grew even increased because of a 6-of-8 evening from Battle who dropped 24 factors towards the Pelicans.
The Raptors desperately want extra three-point firepower and Dick’s damage opened the door for Battle to show himself. He nonetheless has an extended option to go defensively and might want to present he has one other ability to earn common taking part in time, however his taking pictures is definitely NBA stage.
The Raptors will end their street journey Friday evening once they journey to Miami to tackle the Warmth at 8 p.m. ET.
