Raptors HQ - All PostsThe International Fan Site of the Toronto Raptors Basketball Clubhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/14481/raptors-fave.png2024-03-27T22:18:11-04:00http://www.raptorshq.com/rss/current/2024-03-27T22:18:11-04:002024-03-27T22:18:11-04:00Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Final Score: 145-101
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<figcaption>Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Raptors have now lost 12 games in a row, and suffer their second 40+ point loss in March.</p> <p id="FLRp4T">The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> welcomed the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com">New York Knicks</a> and some friendly faces to Toronto tonight as the Raptors tried to avoid 12 straight losses and the Knicks tried to hop into the third seed in the Eastern Conference.</p>
<p id="KBY7vZ">Unfortunately for fans, O.G. Anunoby was ruled out of the game due to his elbow injury, but he was still in attendance and welcomed back enthusiastically.</p>
<p id="H8lwxe">Also unfortunately for fans, the Raptors did lose their 12th straight game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Toronto Raptors welcome back OG Anunoby ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/FHWCS4QruW">pic.twitter.com/FHWCS4QruW</a></p>— chelsea leite (@chelsealeite) <a href="https://twitter.com/chelsealeite/status/1773134797918937255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2024</a>
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<p id="IfP4BJ">With Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, DJ Carton, Jontay Porter, and Chris Boucher all OUT for Toronto, the Raptors started Gradey Dick, Gary Trent Jr. Ochai Agbaji, Javon Freeman-Liberty and Kelly Olynyk.</p>
<p id="OpCaxT">The Knicks started Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, Ian Hartenstein, Jalen Brunson and Miles McBride.</p>
<p id="kILwoa">While the Knicks got out to a decent lead in the first quarter, the biggest thing to happen for Toronto was a bad fall from Ochai Agbaji, leading him to be helped off the court and to the locker room. He was said to have a right hip contusion and was ruled out for the rest of the game.</p>
<p id="bxQEB0">The team updated after the game that his x-rays were thankfully negative but he was receiving further evaluation.</p>
<p id="cARiG2">Unfortunately another addition to the Raptors injury list.</p>
<p id="UPkfCR">New York was up 45-33 after the first quarter.</p>
<p id="Jz8JPv"><em><strong>And now, a word from Raptors Republic’s Samson Folk, because why not:</strong></em></p>
<p id="W4UFLP">This is Samson Folk speaking. I am enthralled, and enraptured by Deuce McBride’s shooting performance thus far. Precious Achiuwa, clearly as some sort of double agent for the Raptors, attempted to take McBride’s head off with a pass. A valiant effort from Achiuwa, but McBride was too quick. He will continue to terrorize the Raptors. </p>
<p id="t27WPI">Goodbye.</p>
<p id="PirA1M"><em><strong>Back to Chelsea:</strong></em></p>
<p id="JOdoPn">Samson commandeered my laptop for long enough that the Knicks went up nearly 20 points, mostly because there were no Raptors who had scored more then 8 points at this point in the game.</p>
<p id="rV2Qoh">This turned into a blowout real quick, honestly. By halftime it was 80-59 for the Knicks.</p>
<p id="ERpyzB">Here are a list of good things that happened in the game, because again, why not:</p>
<p id="DQmR6x">-Garrett Temple played. Big Temple gal over here, we love a Union King. He sank 3 three point shots in the first half alone. Let the man play more, please.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Garrett Temple is leading the Raptors in 3P% over the last 4 games.</p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1773142215595803028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="agN6RY">-Scottie showed up on the bench in a wicked pair of shiny pink bellbottom pants. They were super fun and very much a vibe. The kid got style and I am here for it.</p>
<p id="H8Tul5">-OG smiled a lot during his welcome back moment and it was super cute. Miss that guy. I am also scared of cottage cheese — the texture is weird.</p>
<p id="hixkvk">-Gradey Dick scored his career high in points with 23 total. His previous career high was 22 points.</p>
<p id="Ms2fRG">-Maybe not so good for the Raptors, but Precious Achiuwa had a fun dunk near the end.</p>
<p id="czKjRC">Anyway, the Raptors lost by over 44 points in the end, 145-101. It was their worst home loss in franchise history and their second 40 point loss in March.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raptors lose by 44 points, their worst home loss in franchise history. <br><br>Worst since March 5th, 2024.</p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1773164793379053620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2024</a>
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<p id="jvSI9F">The Raptors were also mathematically eliminated from post-season contention with this loss.</p>
<p id="IqnFVe">They are now off until Sunday afternoon when they face Kyle Lowry and Nick Nurse as the <a href="https://www.libertyballers.com">Philadelphia 76ers</a> come to town.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/27/24114124/toronto-raptors-vs-new-york-knicks-final-score-145-101Chelsea Leite2024-03-27T12:13:49-04:002024-03-27T12:13:49-04:00Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks: Not the reunion we were hoping for
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<figcaption>Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Only one player involved in the Raptors/Knicks trade from December will be in attendance for tonight’s game.</p> <p id="61g0pM">Surely a lot of people had tonight’s game between the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> and <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com">New York Knicks</a> circled on the calendar... but unfortunately it will not be the reunion fans were hoping for.</p>
<p id="EXM74H">This is the first time the Knicks have been to Toronto since the trade that sent O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn to New York in exchange for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley and a second round draft pick.</p>
<p id="WevZPX">Due to injuries and other circumstances, only one player from this trade will be available to play tonight.</p>
<p id="t33mVw">First off, Malachi Flynn doesn’t play for the Knicks anymore, they traded him at the deadline. O.G. Anunoby has been having some elbow issues and ultimately opted for surgery, so he’s currently out of the lineup and didn’t make the trip to Toronto.</p>
<p id="SutE2j">Then on the Raptors side, both RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have missed significant time this month, both spending time away from the team for bereavement.</p>
<p id="PlX2sN">They are both back with the team now, but are in undergoing back to competition conditioning and will not play tonight.</p>
<p id="N3nf0p">That leaves Precious Achiuwa, who will probably get a good reception from fans tonight as he returns to Toronto for the first time.</p>
<p id="IV1KZJ">Both team have sort of been caught by the injury bug this month, but are in wildly different places to end the season. As we know, the Raptors aren’t exactly gunning for a postseason run, having lost 11 games in a row amid injuries, absences, and legal investigations.</p>
<p id="43nzJu">The Knicks on the other hand are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference and desperately trying to hold on to the home court advantage staying there would allow. They sit one game ahead of the Orlando Magic in fifth.</p>
<p id="0YcTdO">For one team, it will be an attempt to avoid a 12-game skid, and for the other, an important seeding game that they will be motivated to win... should be fun for Toronto. Also, Precious Achiuwa as been on one since he moved to the Big Apple, so maybe a revenge game is cooking.</p>
<p id="wnszAn">Regardless, it’s nice to see both Quickley and Barrett returning to the lineup. In a trade that ultimately worked out for both sides, the Raptors return was their best of every trade that went down this season. Both Barrett and Quickley are poised to be a part of this core going forward and fit into the team seamlessly. It also helps that both are thriving in their roles on the team.</p>
<p id="n17oQv">It seems that way on the other side as well. Despite being out with injury on and off, Anunoby is getting the recognition he deserves in a bigger market, and will hopefully have a good postseason run. Achiuwa seems to be finally hitting a stride with a consistent role as well.</p>
<p id="7lBWmv">Although not the game we were expecting, it should be a fun game to watch. The Knicks have made drastic improvements over the past few seasons are are anticipating a fun playoff run.</p>
<p id="t4qKir">Hopefully next season Anunoby will get the fanfare he deserves upon his official return to Toronto.</p>
<h3 id="pDgwe9">Game Details:</h3>
<p id="B7oXG8"><strong>How to Watch:</strong> 7:30pm Sportsnet</p>
<p id="nR43kR"><strong>Lineups:</strong></p>
<p id="7QuTnx"><strong>Toronto:</strong> Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk, Javon Freeman-Liberty</p>
<p id="3vgi4h"><strong>New York:</strong> Jalen Brunson, Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride, Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo</p>
<p id="DcLHCj"><strong>Injuries:</strong></p>
<p id="u9Pe8e"><strong>Toronto:</strong> Scottie Barnes — OUT (hand), Jakob Poeltl — OUT (hand), RJ Barrett — OUT (conditioning), Immanuel Quickley — OUT (conditioning), Chris Boucher — OUT (knee), DJ Carton — OUT (ankle), Jontay Porter — OUT (personal)</p>
<p id="HULqW7"><strong>New York:</strong> O.G. Anunoby — OUT (elbow), Julius Randle — OUT (shoulder), Mitchell Robinson — QUESTIONABLE (ankle), Alec Burks — QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/27/24113557/toronto-raptors-vs-new-york-knicks-not-the-reunion-we-were-hoping-forChelsea Leite2024-03-26T12:54:16-04:002024-03-26T12:54:16-04:00On Jontay Porter, the rise of sports betting, and toxic masculinity
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<figcaption>Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Jontay Porter situation was inevitable, it just coincidentally happened to a Raptors player first. The real question is larger: Is gambling causing the sports community to become more toxic?</p> <p id="GiM3S7"><em>CW: gambling, addiction, toxic masculinity.</em></p>
<p id="OqQ2qm">Is the legalization and integration of sports betting into mainstream sports media leading to increased toxic masculinity in the sports community?</p>
<p id="6fohJ1">Okay, I understand this isn’t an undergrad liberal arts course, but hear me out for a second. It’s International Women’s Month, after all. As a woman in the sports space, I face toxic masculinity on the daily, and the sad part is that most of the time, the people perpetuating it don’t even realize what they are doing.</p>
<p id="zpNGIQ">It’s the looks I get when I say I’m at the game as a member of the media, or the way male fans glare at me when they see the credential around my neck. It’s the way I get airdropped anonymous explicit pictures while I’m trying to cover an NBA game from my spot on the media row.</p>
<p id="zDmAko">It’s the way I often have to spend double the time proving myself than my male counterparts just to feel worthy of the same opportunities.</p>
<p id="HhXmLy"><strong>But I can feel you asking:</strong> So what does sports betting have to do with that?</p>
<p id="PsAOuV">If you’re reading this and up to date on <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> news, you probably know that Raptors two-way player Jontay Porter was pulled form the lineup prior to Monday night’s game against Brooklyn. He is reportedly <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39808900/nba-eyes-raptors-jontay-porter-betting-issues">being investigated by the NBA</a> for suspicious activity surrounding his own prop bets. </p>
<p id="I9xfs7">Specifically, in two separate games, wagers were extremely high on Porter’s unders, with Porter leaving both games early due to injury/illness.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">More reporting, per ESPN’s <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidPurdum?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidPurdum</a>: At least one other U.S. sportsbook detected unusual betting interest on Porter props in games in question. A sportsbook industry source told ESPN that multiple betting accounts attempted to bet large amounts, upwards of $10K and $20K, on…</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) <a href="https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1772427945585291291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="r7Gd17">But even outside of this situation, every part of the sports experience has become completely saturated with gambling. Seemingly<strong> </strong>every broadcast has a betting segment, every podcast is sponsored by a sportsbook, and even the NBA is planning to<a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2024/03/nba-league-pass-sports-betting-integration-sportradar"> integrate betting into league pass</a>.</p>
<p id="wMimDj">It’s not to say that every person who has ever placed a bet has a problem, but this could be a slippery slope from “let’s check out this cool new app being promoted during my basketball game” to a highly addictive and dangerous activity, at least for some people.</p>
<p id="HP5SR9">Plus, as if sports didn’t have a toxic masculinity problem to begin with, it seems the integration of sports betting into mainstream sports and their media coverage is perpetuating the problem further. It’s how men are asserting their dominance these days in sports spaces.</p>
<p id="wfF17h">Now, obviously not every sports fan has leaned into this rise of sports gambling. There seems to be divide among fans on whether or not this cultural shift is good or bad. Yet, a few bad eggs seem to ruin the fun for everyone else.</p>
<p id="EOXlih">When I cover games in person, it’s almost a 100% guarantee that I will hear some fan around us yelling at a player when they miss a shot because it messes with their parlay. Fans have started commenting on players’ social media profiles, getting mad at them when their stats cause those fans to lose out on money.</p>
<p id="NCHLWn">Despite the fact that gambling can become a dangerous addiction, these companies are still relentlessly shoving it down consumers' throats, with little to no regulations to protect people from danger. With little education on the dangers of gambling. With such an ease of accessibility that almost<strong> </strong>anyone can do it from their smartphone.</p>
<p id="GA3Aal">Now, it’s common knowledge that women are rising in the sports betting space, with the number of women signing up for online sportsbooks in the past few years <a href="https://gwsolutions.com/2023/02/09/women-continue-to-drive-sportsbook-betting-craze-with-over-3-million-new-players-on-mobile-apps-in-a-year/">growing at a rate faster than men</a>. Yet, women have been proven to (most of the time) be less risk-averse financially.</p>
<p id="WLm7K7">In a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167487007000426">2008 study published in the Journal of Economic Psychology</a>, it was determined that those who identify more masculine (regardless of biological sex) were more likely to be more risky when it came to financial decisions. In a 2016 study published in <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16066359.2016.1205042">Addiction Research and Theory</a>, it was found that sports gambling poses a particular risk to young men because they feel the pressure to fit in with their peers by participating. It was less of a financial decision and more of a socialization tool.</p>
<p id="24IJzA">The same study labeled sports wagering as a “health risk” for men, due to its integration into mainstream sports and the aggressive marketing aimed toward them.</p>
<p id="Y9sURj">A <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02614367.2018.1555675?needAccess=true">2018 study</a> connected sports gambling success in men with social capital, “by virtue of analytic skill, risk-taking and boisterous, competitive social interactions.” Basically, the more successful you were when it came to gambling, the more smart and cool you seemed to your buddies... even with no education in finance.</p>
<p id="XMUiYP">A lot of NBA fans disagree with the integration of sports betting into media for the above reasons, but how does toxic masculinity fit into it? Other than angry drunk fans at games, of course.</p>
<p id="d4mT58">The thing that struck me most from the Porter situation was the knowledge that he has <a href="https://twitter.com/JontayPorter/status/1521517014623289344">confirmed he runs a social media account</a> dedicated to giving others financial advice and betting tips. There’s been a rise of male financial “experts” giving free (or not free) financial advice online. Anyone can make a TikTok account or Discord server labelling themselves a financial guru. It goes back to the above study that suggested success in gambling = intelligence.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">jontay has a discord where he tells people what to trade and bet on. i have to pay $49.99 to see the premium room, but in the main room they are discussing things the NBA and jontay, and ppl are thanking jontay for their winnings. this is wild, wild stuff <a href="https://t.co/CnGDE4zx9p">pic.twitter.com/CnGDE4zx9p</a></p>— raptor moments (@raptormoments) <a href="https://twitter.com/raptormoments/status/1772474816714395760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="Vn2TAi">These men thrive on the idea that they are all-knowing experts who have “hacked the system,” finding quick and easy ways to garner “free” income. It seems less about the money itself and more about saying “hey, I’m the smartest person here because I outsmarted the system.”</p>
<p id="7uTvzM">This kinda feels like the vibe in this current situation. My internet research found that Porter played one season at the University of Missouri, and sat another out injured, before declaring for the <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA draft</a>. There was no evidence of whether or not he ever graduated or what his major was, and it’s listed as “undecided” on his college profile. So... what education/training/expertise did he have to be able to charge people $50 to access his premium financial advice group?</p>
<p id="JcPJdO">What’s more disappointing — a 24-year-old charging people for financial advice, or the people trusting a 24-year-old with financial advice?</p>
<p id="9j6VOn">Sure, he’s a basketball player who ultimately has an increased knowledge of the game due to years of training, but it seems this discord group stems beyond simple props and over/unders. He appears to talk about the stock market, crypto, and things that go beyond a base knowledge of knowing the game of basketball really well.</p>
<p id="85SHVu">The sad part, if the allegations are true, is the belief that he wouldn’t get caught. It’s screaming that he thought he could outsmart a few billion-dollar corporations, again “hacking the system.” </p>
<p id="Cr8qHR">Are these young men so delusional about their own financial power that they think they are immune to consequences? It stems from this situation all the way down to the average male sports gambler who thinks they know enough about the system to win big every time.</p>
<p id="mbCNlH">When they do win, the confidence grows, and they start believing they are invincible. They place higher wagers. They want to assert their power.</p>
<p id="XM00J3">When they lose, it can be even more dangerous. Especially to those closest to them in life, but also to the athletes they harass for being the cause to their financial downfall. We’ve seen it happen live in games, like when a <a href="https://www.outkick.com/betting/bradley-beal-tells-gambling-fans-to-chill-out-following-physical-incident">fan yelled at Bradley Beal in 2023</a> because he “made him lose $1,300,” leading to a physical altercation.</p>
<p id="OPHBrY">With the rise of gambling becoming integral to sports, situations like this are only going to get more common. Sports are going to become even more exclusive to the casual fan, and to women who don’t share the interest in betting. </p>
<p id="DcV6lO">How much will be too much for these leagues? How many instances of this kind of behaviour will prove to them that these two industries need clear boundaries?</p>
<p id="A3kNO6">How toxic is this new gambling-heavy sports experience going to get before something is done to stop it?</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/26/24112444/on-jontay-porter-the-rise-of-sports-betting-and-toxic-masculinityChelsea Leite2024-03-26T09:07:15-04:002024-03-26T09:07:15-04:00Raptors’ losing streak extends to 11 after falling 96-88 to the visiting Nets
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<figcaption>Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>In a matchup where it was not possible for both teams to lose, Brooklyn lost less.</p> <p id="5fliqU">For a team hurtling towards the lottery, the Raptors sure made a lot of news off the court.</p>
<p id="49MgOn">The day started with news that Jah’mius Ramsey would not be signed for the rest of the season (yet). Instead, Toronto signed guard, Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract.</p>
<p id="aVnZLH">RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley missed the game, again, for personal reasons, but Raptors PR did indicate they were both returning to “competition conditioning.” There was no indication on when they’d return but that is positive news that returns are imminent.</p>
<p id="3tfolm">However, the off-court news that took over NBA Twitter was ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s <a href="https://x.com/wojespn/status/1772387015960531145?s=20">latest bomb surrounding Jontay Porter</a>. According to sources, several sizable prop bets were placed on Porter stats. Allegations are flying from all corners regarding Jontay’s terrible interpretation of Fred VanVleet’s mantra!</p>
<p id="nkqki5">Oh right, there was a game!</p>
<p id="9Mywan">Dennis Schroder made up for a horrendous return game in Toronto last month by leading the Nets to a 96-88 road victory tonight. Schroder finished with 19 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Also scoring 19 points, and leading all reserves, was Trendon Watford, who scored on an efficient 7-for-10 shooting while also corralling 7 rebounds. Brooklyn took advantage of Toronto’s size deficiency — as has been the case for many Raptors opponents recently — winning the battle of the boards 50-30. Chief among the board men was Nic Claxton, who grabbed 16 rebounds.</p>
<p id="yFnFlk">With the Nets clinging to an 86-81 lead in the final minutes, Schroder hit a pair of floaters in the lane to ice the game for Brooklyn. Just one month ago, Dennis had a season-worst -30 in his first game back in Toronto after being traded two weeks prior to Brooklyn. It was sweet redemption for Schroder, who supposedly left the team because he was unhappy with his role.</p>
<p id="Sm6Sv6">Toronto was led in scoring by Gary Trent Jr., who chipped in with 18 points. Javon Freeman-Liberty was arguably the best Raptors on the night, starting the second game of his career and having his best performance to date. JFL scored 15 points on 7-for-12 shooting, constantly getting to the rim on aggressive drives and cuts. On the defensive end, he hounded Schroder all night long, rarely falling for Dennis’ fakes while always preventing the blowby. Kelly Olynyk nearly notched his 6th double-double of the season, and second consecutive, with 10 points and 9 assists.</p>
<p id="IKPbnT">Toronto and Brooklyn entered the game on a combined 16-game losing streak (10 for the Raptors, 6 for the Nets). In other words, somebody had to win this game.</p>
<p id="ndvTBy">If you needed an early sign that this was a matchup of lottery teams, Kevin Ollie challenged an out-of-bounds call.....3 minutes into the game. He was successful, but that’s still not the type of call to risk your only challenge.</p>
<p id="qABlDw">Despite the presence of Nic Claxton, the Raptors made a concerted effort to attack the rim, scoring 12 of its first 15 points in the paint. Dorian Finney-Smith scored the Nets’ first 7 points as Brooklyn grabbed an early 16-15 lead.</p>
<p id="XpdBJb">Bruce Brown appeared to hurt his left thumb during the first quarter and temporarily exited the game to head into the locker room. By the start of the second quarter, his left thumb was taped and he re-entered the game.</p>
<p id="xN9gRm">Some history was made during the first quarter as Gary Trent Jr. moved up the Raptors’ All-Time chart for threes made.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gary Trent Jr. hits his 579th three as a Raptor, tying Andrea Bargnani for 6th most in Raptors franchise history. <a href="https://t.co/WleIMIl6km">pic.twitter.com/WleIMIl6km</a></p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1772411813008695795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
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<p id="zLcSRg">With both teams essentially using the game as a glorified practice, they each were able to spread the love, scoring-wise. 18 of the 20 players who took the court in the first half scored at least one bucket. All 10 Raptors scored while 7 of the Nets’ 8 scorers hit at least two field goal attempts.</p>
<p id="wVpv3l">Leading the Raptors’ bench in first-half scoring was the aforementioned new acquisition, Simmons, who incited the first screams of “Kobi” in Scotiabank Arena in a very long time (and wearing number 8 too)!</p>
<div id="iztdj1">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m not sure if he’ll be with the Toronto Raptors for the long term or not, but I’m really impressed by Kobi Simmons so far. <br><br>Full of hustle/energy on the defensive end (which is a huge asset!) and knocking down 3’s on the other end. <br><br>Would be a great piece off the bench. <a href="https://t.co/dgkvbdTKDC">pic.twitter.com/dgkvbdTKDC</a></p>— عمر عثمان Mike Tyson’s Translator (@OmerOsman200) <a href="https://twitter.com/OmerOsman200/status/1772418524851360240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="qvaRYY">Toronto’s offence was stagnant on multiple occasions. A 12-point “outburst” over the final couple of minutes in the first half <em>boosted</em> the Raptors’ field goal percentage over 40%. The Raptors kept pace with Brooklyn by resorting to its old bread-and-butter: generating turnovers (10 by Brooklyn in the first two quarters) and getting out on the break (12-5 edge in transition points in the first half).</p>
<p id="qF1R17">The third quarter began the same way the first quarter began with Toronto getting to the rim. Javon Freeman-Liberty made several successful forays to the basket. Whether it was off the dribble or cutting behind the defense and receiving a perfectly placed feed from Kelly Olynyk, JFL showed the offensive prowess that led to his G-League success.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Some good Javon Freeman-Liberty…<br><br>1. Good strong side dig, denies and recovers, leads to a raptors layup. Then he stalks a cutting point with the Nets at a disadvantage in the post.<br><br>2. Good hip turn and sprint to keep up with Dennis. Then finds space and seizes it, draws a foul <a href="https://t.co/pdwiqlIqqz">pic.twitter.com/pdwiqlIqqz</a></p>— Amit Mann (@Amit_Mann) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amit_Mann/status/1772436981420638626?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a>
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<p id="d6009Y">Gradey Dick struggled again with his shot, shooting 3-for-11 from the field and missing all 5 of his three-point attempts. The Kansas Jayhawk alum has been forced out of his typical role with the Raptors roster depleted and will continue being challenged for the remaining 10 games.</p>
<p id="CTyTT4">Brooklyn led for much of the game but Toronto was able to close the third quarter on a 9-2 run, taking a 69-68 lead into the final frame. </p>
<p id="vX2wlD">By the end of the 3rd quarter, both teams had zero luck scoring from outside. Toronto was 5-for-23 (21.7%), which was actually better than Brooklyn, who shot 6-for-30 (20%) from beyond the arc.</p>
<p id="bs1MHv">More history was made in the fourth quarter as a Gary Trent Jr. assist on a Kelly Olynyk bucket was the team’s 2,086th assist of the season — a franchise record for assists in a season. Despite constant turnover throughout the season and a never-ending list of injuries, Darko Rajakovic’s ‘0.5 offense’ has taken shape in Toronto. The Raptors entered the game 4th in assists and are in the <a href="https://x.com/SravanNBA/status/1771214191120007544?s=20">top 5 in shot quality</a>.</p>
<p id="2v9lbg">Watford was a pleasant surprise — for both teams. He led all Brooklyn scorers with 17 points. The fans inside Scotiabank Arena couldn’t help but cheer for him after his missed free throw in the 4th quarter won everyone a free slice of pizza. He endeared himself further to the home crowd by bricking two more free throws a few possessions later.</p>
<p id="OfyL27">This was the Raptors’ lowest-scoring output of the season, surpassing the 89 points they scored in Wednesday’s loss to Sacramento. With two sub-90-point performances within a week, it’s probably not the greatest news that Toronto’s next opponent is the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com">New York Knicks</a>! On Wednesday, OG Anunoby makes his return to Scotiabank Arena for the first time as an opponent. He’s been battling an elbow injury and may not play, but his presence alone will be a welcome sight to Raptors fans.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/26/24112003/toronto-raptors-lose-96-88-to-brooklyn-nets-dennis-schroder-revenge-gameJay Rosales2024-03-25T15:34:29-04:002024-03-25T15:34:29-04:00Toronto Raptors vs Brooklyn Nets: Preview
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<img alt="Brooklyn Nets v Toronto Raptors" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xJXsgRR8P3MoJvxKwF0tD6UjYQc=/0x0:4457x2971/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73232186/2051002918.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It will be a battle between the 11th and 12th teams in the Eastern Conference tonight as the Nets visit the Raptors</p> <p id="c0zPka">The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> are back home tonight to host the <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com">Brooklyn Nets</a> for the first of three home games to end off the month of March. In the course of one month, the Raptors have only won one game (against Charlotte), and have lost their entire core to injuries and absences.</p>
<p id="9Pdrhy">This of course, came after a near full-team rebuild after the Raptors traded eight players prior to this year’s deadline. The Nets have been going through a similar rebuilding process since their super team blew up and all of James Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left the team.</p>
<p id="cRnHKw">Now these teams hold the 11th and 12th spots in the Eastern Conference, trying to figure out what comes next.</p>
<p id="O5TDGQ">For the Raptors, maybe the vision is a little more clear — the future of their new core seems to be bright, but we are missing out on building chemistry between them all due to all the absences.</p>
<p id="O3rlrv">On the other hand, Toronto is also in a fight right now to retain their top-six draft pick in the upcoming <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nba-draft">NBA draft</a>, and the odds look stacked against them.</p>
<p id="OUqbLU">It’s hard to know if this Raptors team is really intentionally tanking or if the losses are just a result of missing your entire core and playing a lineup of G-League stars. None the less, the Raptors may be in the midst of an 11-game losing streak after tonight.</p>
<p id="J7NGlb">I’m not usually one for betting odds, but after Toronto went into their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder as 17.5 point underdogs, I was curious what the odds for this game against Brooklyn would be, given the match up. Toronto (at the time this is being written) are only 6.5 point underdogs, so... not as bad, but still not great.</p>
<p id="RumceY">Game Info:</p>
<p id="7CyWcM"><strong>How to Watch:</strong> Sportsnet, 7:30pm</p>
<p id="JLHXu0"><strong>Lineups:</strong></p>
<p id="Ex41ue"><strong>Toronto:</strong> Gary Trent Jr., Gradey Dick, Bruce Brown, Ochai Agbaji, Kelly Olynyk</p>
<p id="7RXNit"><strong>Brooklyn: </strong>Miles Bridges, Nic Claxton, Dennis Schroder, Cam Thomas</p>
<p id="NQFT5y"><strong>Injuries:</strong></p>
<p id="vQvfre"><strong>Toronto:</strong> Scottie Barnes OUT (hand), Jakob Poeltl OUT (hand), RJ Barrett OUT (personal reasons), Immanuel Quickley OUT (personal reasons), DJ Carton OUT (ankle), Chris Boucher (knee) OUT, Jontay Porter OUT (personal reasons)</p>
<p id="RBWCPm"><strong>Brooklyn:</strong> Dennis Smith Jr. OUT (hip), Keita Bates-Diop OUT (leg), Cameron Johnson OUT (toe), Ben Simmons OUT (back), Dariq Whitehead OUT (leg)</p>
<p id="UVmF2r">***</p>
<h3 id="KzMU4I">Dennis Schroder Revenge Game?</h3>
<p id="rztG4e">Dennis Schroder was unexpectedly traded to the Brooklyn Nets at the deadline for really no return for the Raptors. It was widely believed it was because he was unhappy with the role he had fallen into in Toronto, coming off the bench.</p>
<p id="sQXAqP">He was better coming off the bench, but he didn’t seem to enjoy it. So now he’s in Brooklyn. It will be the first time he’s been back since that trade, and even though it’s only been two-ish months, he probably won’t recognize anyone on the team now.</p>
<p id="V0CjYL">Still, he may decide to go off for a wild revenge performance.</p>
<h3 id="6kC4mV">Another New Kid on the Block</h3>
<p id="i9aIkw">The Raptors announced yesterday that they are signing Raptors 905 player Kobi Simmons to a 10-day contract with the team. This replaces the 10-day that Jahmi’us Ramsey was most previously on.</p>
<p id="T3xU40">Simmons was averaging 15.9 points per game with the Raptors 905 this season. The Raptors have been using the free rosters spots opened up in their trading at the deadline to rotate a number of 10-day contracts in hopes of getting a look at some young players. </p>
<h3 id="7nAXRC">Gradey Dick Sharp Shooting</h3>
<p id="O5PeOd">Gradey Dick has had a strange rookie season, but that hasn’t stopped him from developing his game at the NBA level. The former Kansas JayHawk came into the league with a reputation for being a shooter, and he has proven himself this year.</p>
<p id="Zx4es6">He leads rookies in the league in three point shooting percentage since January 1st (minimum 50 attempts) at 40.3%.</p>
<div id="r8LJMZ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rookie 3P% leaders since January 1st (min. 50 3PA)<br>Gradey Dick - 40.3<br>Cason Wallace - 39.8<br>Duop Reath - 39.8<br>Nick Smith Jr. - 39.3<br>Marcus Sasser - 37.6<br>Jordan Hawkins - 37.4</p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1772334685139394714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2024</a>
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<p id="FwwDds">Even with the team on a 10+ game losing streak, it’s definitely nice to see Gradey developing throughout these games.</p>
<p id="GKlIzg">Toronto vs Brooklyn tips off at 7:30pm ET tonight.</p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/25/24111584/toronto-raptors-vs-brooklyn-nets-previewChelsea Leite2024-03-25T12:12:42-04:002024-03-25T12:12:42-04:00The Rap-Up: Is it over yet?
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<img alt="Toronto Raptors v New York Knicks" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WLxTfltUyxu0C-2MdLMWK-b45AI=/0x0:5320x3547/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73231581/1953189097.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Break out the warm and fuzzies as the Raptors welcome back all-time faves, OG Anunoby and Kyle Lowry.</p> <p id="y93zeV">11 games left.</p>
<p id="9lYsM3">The <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a> currently have the longest losing streak in the NBA, at 10 games.</p>
<p id="t47dZa">11 games left.</p>
<p id="6Lbb3u">They have been playing without their best player, future Point Guard, best wing scorer, starting Center, and best self-shot-creator. </p>
<p id="P2YY8l">11 games left.</p>
<p id="LcmddO">With the entire starting lineup missing, the offense has plummeted and dragged the team permanently into the ‘Quadrant of Woe’.</p>
<div id="YKQUhl">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Efficiency Landscape. What Jumps Out? <a href="https://t.co/I7V2lV00XM">pic.twitter.com/I7V2lV00XM</a></p>— Kirk Goldsberry (@kirkgoldsberry) <a href="https://twitter.com/kirkgoldsberry/status/1771181774069973177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2024</a>
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<p id="9zHi6u">11 games left.</p>
<p id="psFGuh">8 of the remaining games are against opponents in a playoff or play-in position. The Raptors have home and away games remaining against Brooklyn, including Monday’s home game.....where Toronto is 5.5 point underdogs. If they’re home dogs, the Raptors will likely not be favoured in Brooklyn. The only remaining game is at home against Washington. That may be the only game where Toronto is favoured.</p>
<p id="gKrnJd">11. Games. Left.</p>
<p id="OBUV5T"><strong>March 25 vs </strong><a href="https://www.netsdaily.com"><strong>Brooklyn Nets</strong></a><strong> </strong></p>
<p id="Y0CKPu">When Jacque Vaughn was fired on February 19, the Nets had a 38.8% winning percentage (21-33 record).</p>
<p id="c8Qhga">Since Kevin Ollie was hired on February 20, the Nets have a 29.4% winning percentage (5-12 record).</p>
<p id="ltif2G">The situation in Brooklyn is not too dissimilar from Toronto. Ollie may have been thrust into his first NBA head coaching gig in the middle of the season, but Darko Rajakovic has essentially coached three different versions of the Raptors (pre-trades, post-trades, and post-Scottie). Both teams came into the season knowing they were play-in teams, at best. Both teams have a star wing they’ll build their respective teams around (although Toronto’s is 5 years younger and has a higher ceiling). </p>
<p id="V0ebxt">The comparisons end there, abruptly.</p>
<p id="9bJl88">While Toronto has Indiana’s top-3 protected first and, with some lottery luck, a top-6 pick of their own, Brooklyn has no first-round pick as they still owe Houston from the James Harden deal — who was traded away in LAST season’s trade deadline.</p>
<p id="9amqQ7">The Raptors also have the excuse of injuries. Many, many injuries. Brooklyn’s biggest injury concern was losing Ben Simmons for the season. Simmons only played 15 games for Brooklyn this year.</p>
<p id="bDvAaO"><strong>Fun fact that may only interest me</strong></p>
<p id="67hxvJ">Dennis Schroder played his worst game of the season in his return to Toronto last month. He missed 6 of his 7 field goal attempts, coughed up 4 turnovers off the bench, and generally looked like someone who was only playing his 4th game for a new team.</p>
<p id="gq8Oaz">Schroder’s plus/minus for the game, -30, was his lowest of the season and 2nd lowest of his entire career, spanning 758 games!</p>
<p id="oP7S9c">Pfft. And he wanted starter minutes on this team!</p>
<p id="esQ84s"><strong>Prediction</strong></p>
<p id="92nXim">The Nets visit Toronto on the heels of losing 6 straight and 8 of its last 9. Among those games include losses to Detroit, Charlotte, and San Antonio. They’re nearing the end of a brutal late-season road trip with 10 of 11 games away from home.</p>
<p id="vlHjD0">Yet, Brooklyn is still 5.5-point favourites to win this game! That should tell you all you need to know about the current state of the Raptors. </p>
<p id="ponm3b">It was just over a month ago when the Raptors dismantled the same Nets by 28 points. Ah, the good ol’ days when Toronto had its starters! <strong>The Nets get their revenge by adding to Toronto’s losing streak AND covering the 5.5 spread. </strong></p>
<div id="qlYhmD">
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">MIKAL BRIDGES FULL-COURT SHOT TO BEAT THE HALFTIME BUZZER <a href="https://t.co/EwhOzcz28i">pic.twitter.com/EwhOzcz28i</a></p>— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1771601147402317892?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2024</a>
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<p id="KqCF1R"><strong>March 27 vs </strong><a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com"><strong>New York Knicks</strong></a><strong> </strong></p>
<p id="xoZ4vX">The Knicks have the #3 defense over the last two weeks.</p>
<p id="jfw1NG">That shouldn’t surprise you. Tom Thibodeau’s middle name is defense, I think. What may surprise you is that the Knicks have done most of this without OG Anunoby, who only played in 3 of those 7 games.</p>
<p id="mgQU3r">In fact, New York’s starting frontcourt — Anunoby, Julius Randle, and Mitchell Robinson — have played a grand total of 3 games since Jan. 27. The Knicks’ success this year hinges on the returns of Anunoby and Randle.</p>
<p id="8ieueS">Assuming OG signs his extension to stay in New York, the Knicks will have a core of Jalen Brunson, Donte Divincenzo, Josh Hart, Anunoby, Randle, Robinson, and Bojan Bogdanovic to wreak havoc on the East next season. As long as they’re healthy, the Knicks will be a serious contender in 2025.</p>
<p id="6V6dky"><strong>Fun fact that may only interest me</strong></p>
<p id="pY3iM8">Mitchell Robinson’s season ended abruptly on December 8th after injuring his ankle and having surgery. At the time, he led the NBA with an Offensive Rebounding Percentage of 20.3%.</p>
<p id="s9ViGp">That was approximately 40 games ago for the Knicks, who currently find themselves......#1 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounding Percentage (32.3%)!</p>
<p id="nebWri"><strong>Prediction</strong></p>
<p id="g6NOE4">Anunoby’s first game at Scotiabank Arena as an opponent will be similar to Pascal Siakam’s return since he’s played with very few current Raptors. Whether or not he’s able to suit up, the ovation he receives will be one of the only bright spots of the night (and worth the price of admission).</p>
<p id="8bgjcy">As for the game itself, the Raptors will have no answer for Jalen Brunson, who torched Toronto with 38 points in the last meeting, or any of New York’s offensive board crashers, including (gulp) Precious Achiuwa.</p>
<p id="yZi4wl"><strong>The Knicks cover the 10.5 spread and defeat the Raptors by 20.</strong></p>
<div id="LewDZA">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brunson on his ‘06 Kobe run right now <a href="https://t.co/XRoVkAFPom">pic.twitter.com/XRoVkAFPom</a></p>— Cynical (@CynicalNYK) <a href="https://twitter.com/CynicalNYK/status/1769437990852460734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2024</a>
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<p id="91AeME"><strong>March 31 vs </strong><a href="https://www.libertyballers.com"><strong>Philadelphia 76ers</strong></a><strong> </strong></p>
<p id="2PPACF">Remember the first week of the season when the Raptors had to play the Sixers on the second game of a back-to-back.....TWICE?!?</p>
<p id="Y5aeTW">Since these teams last met on December 22nd, Philadelphia has performed the following transactions:</p>
<ul>
<li id="XDtPcx">Claimed Kyle Lowry off waivers</li>
<li id="RNTRY1">Signed Jeff Dowtin Jr. to a two-way contract</li>
<li id="8us3YA">Traded for Cam Payne</li>
<li id="JOXLHj">Signed DJ Wilson to a 10-day contract (which runs out two days before this game....unless it’s renewed)</li>
</ul>
<p id="rIKuyc">The Sixers are #1 in turnover rate (a.k.a. they do not turn the ball over), #1 in transition points per play from live rebounds (Alexa, play “Push It” by Salt ‘n’ Pepa), and #1 in steals. </p>
<p id="5z9VLx">Yup, this is a Nick Nurse team!</p>
<p id="thk4wN"><strong>Fun fact that may only interest me</strong></p>
<p id="q0j55L">Kyle Lowry played <strong>24,265</strong> minutes in a Raptors uniform (including playoffs).</p>
<p id="rZyMUI">If we remove Chris Boucher from the equation, that’s almost the same amount of Raptors’ career regular season minutes (<strong>24,461</strong>) as the ENTIRE RAPTORS ROSTER.</p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Watch the way Lowry waits for Martin to fall, then needlessly jumps back over him to get the foul call lol <a href="https://t.co/Sz9IJGetN1">https://t.co/Sz9IJGetN1</a> <a href="https://t.co/wv4Sb9wKmv">pic.twitter.com/wv4Sb9wKmv</a></p>— Daniel Olinger (@dan_olinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/dan_olinger/status/1769888687230247001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 19, 2024</a>
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<p id="ncBJ20"><strong>Prediction</strong></p>
<p id="3dYjl2">As was the case throughout his time as Head Coach of the Raptors, Nick Nurse has not given any clues surrounding the timetables for Joel Embiid, Robert Covington (out since December 30), or De’Anthony Melton (out since February 27). Since Embiid hurt his knee against the Warriors on January 30th, Philadelphia has kept afloat with a 10-15 record. If they were in the West, the Sixers would be in 10th and debating the merits of shutting it down for the season. Playing in the East allows Philly to wait out his recovery and hope he’s good to go for the playoffs.</p>
<p id="441tMI">It would be nice to see Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett, and Gary Trent Jr. match up with Tyrese Maxey, Tobias Harris, and Buddy Hield, but there’s no way of knowing if/when IQ and Barrett will return. As such, I imagine the <strong>Sixers will be 9.5-point favourites and should be able to cover, winning by 15 points.</strong></p>
<p id="qf44AV">********</p>
<h4 id="IcfJKO"><strong>Last Week: 2-1</strong></h4>
<h4 id="MuuSP5"><strong>Season Record: 46-25 (2-1 against the spread)</strong></h4>
<p id="zOAbvZ"></p>
https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/25/24108798/toronto-raptors-rap-up-games-of-the-week-march-25-31-nets-knicks-sixersJay Rosales2024-03-23T12:45:44-04:002024-03-23T12:45:44-04:00Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards: Preview, TV Schedule, Injuries, and More
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<img alt="NBA: Toronto Raptors at Washington Wizards" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/mW3yllcDSmcicZ29tTxXxWphoyQ=/0x0:4950x3300/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73228179/usa_today_22180531.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Time for a win: a league-worst defence could be the perfect opportunity for the undermanned Raps</p> <p id="wSaCig">The Toronto Raptors will take a single game road trip to face the Washington Wizards in their second matchup of the season. In the first game, back in December, the roster looked significantly different, so despite a dominant 30-point victory the last time around, the playing field has been significantly leveled since their last meeting. Both teams are missing players due to injury and populating the bottom 6 teams in league standings, so this matchup is largely about player development and repetitions. </p>
<p id="6bA4PG">Toronto enters this game on the second night of a back-to-back, falling to the Thunder last night and acquiring their ninth loss in a row. The injury bug continues, with Gary Trent Jr. missing the last game due to lower back stiffness along with all of the other injuries and absences from the team. We have seen a bit of a resurgence of Gradey Dick, who struggled a bit with increasing minutes but now seems to have made positive adjustments. He finished with 21-5-1, on 4 for 7 from long range and continues to add variety in his game, especially in regards to cutting and finishing. The game tonight is another excellent opportunity for Gradey, along with the rest of the active roster, many of whom are still looking for their next contract. </p>
<p id="Cesrbm">The Raptors will be facing a defence that ranks dead last in the league. Washington has allowed the most points of any team: about 124 per game. Their greatest weakness is something that the Raptors can take advantage of by pushing the pace and attacking, preventing Washington from getting their defence set as often as possible. Toronto’s transition offence is their strong suit, leading the league in transition possessions and transition points per game. Unfortunately, they are undersized in this matchup, so they will need active defence to keep them out of the paint and prevent any easy shots. </p>
<p id="HPDcfn">The Wizards are coming off a surprising win against Sacramento, where Kyle Kuzma had a dominant 31-point performance. It’s unlikely they’ll finish outside of the bottom 4, so Washington might be looking at this game as another winning opportunity for a roster that’s been underperforming this season. They’ll likely try to use their size to dominate the painted areas, with Kyle Kuzma, Deni Avdija, Marvin Bagley III, and Richaun Holmes all having a size advantage. Their experience to outcompete a younger, less experienced roster might also play in their favor, as well as the rest advantage they have. </p>
<p id="tpVp2n">With the continued effort and energy from the active roster of the Raptors, hopefully they will see a pay off tonight against a team that has struggled throughout the season. Over the last few games, they’ve started strong but lost steam during the second half. Tonight they have the opportunity to string together a complete game, and come away with a victory that will be huge for a roster that has tried to compete despite various setbacks.</p>
<p id="seUyz1"></p>
<p id="JnFbQR"><strong>How to Watch:</strong> </p>
<p id="LpFSqp">Sportsnet, at 8:00 pm ET</p>
<p id="PY6e3f"></p>
<p id="3oL2xw"><strong>Likely Lineups:</strong></p>
<p id="IuP33R">Toronto: Ochai Agbaji, Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, Javon Freeman-Liberty</p>
<p id="WsEBpR">Washington: Marvin Bagley III, Corey Kispert, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Johnny Davis</p>
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<p id="000VqJ"><strong>Injuries:</strong></p>
<p id="ENlINM">Toronto: Scottie Barnes (Out; Left hand fracture), RJ Barrett (Out; Personal reasons), Chris Boucher (Out; Right MCL tear), D.J. Carton (Out; Right ankle sprain), Jakob Poeltl (Out; Left hand torn ligament), Gary Trent Jr. (Questionable; Back tightness), Immanuel Quickley (Out; Personal reasons)</p>
<p id="ibqVSP">Washington: Bilal Coulibaly (Out; Right wrist fracture), Tyus Jones (Out; Back lumbosacral sprain), Isaiah Livers (Out; Right hip joint capsule inflammation), Eugene Omoruyi (Out; Right ankle sprain), Jordan Poole (Questionable; Right hip contusion), Landry Shamet (Out; Left calf strain)</p>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/23/24109598/toronto-raptors-vs-washington-wizards-preview-tv-schedule-injuries-and-moreRebecca Schapelhouman2024-03-22T22:03:42-04:002024-03-22T22:03:42-04:00Toronto Raptors vs Oklahoma City Thunder Final: 123-103 — Raptors start hot but can’t keep up with SGA
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<figcaption>Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Raptors have now lost nine games in a row, their longest losing streak in a decade.</p> <p id="9a8fQ7">It was the first night of a back to back for the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com">Toronto Raptors</a>, and it was... not really about them. Mostly because of who they were playing against — the Oklahoma City Thunder. That meant two Canadians were in town, Lu Dort and of course, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.</p>
<p id="lXcJM4">SGA’s day started earlier in the day when he accepted his award for being the 2023 Canadian Athlete of the Year.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">SGA gets awarded for the Canadian Athlete of the Year <a href="https://t.co/b2DQXOaf3q">pic.twitter.com/b2DQXOaf3q</a></p>— Esfandiar Baraheni (@JustEsBaraheni) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustEsBaraheni/status/1771196845777121629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2024</a>
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<p id="upOWGv">Of course, this game did not come without a lengthy injury list on Toronto’s side. With Gary Trent Jr. a late scratch for the team, they were without all of their regular starting five players. In total, the Raptors were missing seven of their players tonight.</p>
<p id="S0HEbK">Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, Chris Boucher and DJ Carton all joined Trent Jr. on the injury list.</p>
<p id="ev8HV6">They came into the game 17.5 point underdogs, which is a franchise record at home.</p>
<p id="zeF1WH">The Raptors opted to start Bruce Brown, Javon Freeman-Liberty, Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk.</p>
<p id="DFP2Zb">Surprisingly (?) this lineup did well against OKC to start, they were up 26-16 at one point in the first quarter. They were still up at the end of the first, 35-28 over OKC.</p>
<p id="o05XnB">Gradey Dick also broke his own single-quarter scoring record, getting to 13 points before the quarter was over. His previous single-quarter-high was 11 points.</p>
<p id="1844H0">The Thunder picked up their slack in the second quarter, catching up to the Raptors and then some. Chet Holmgren led the team into double digit scoring pretty soon into the quarter.</p>
<p id="qO0KLf">Garrett Temple finally got onto the court, and quickly sunk a three-point shot (#PlayTempleMore). It was Kelly Olynyk that led the team in scoring through the first half though, with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists. Gradey had 13, and on the other side, both SGA and Holmgren had 12 a piece.</p>
<p id="pDs3eS">OKC held their lead through the second quarter as well, leading 62-56 at half.</p>
<p id="ZQTAjN">The third quarter just saw OKC run with it. Chet Holmgren continued to thrive, the rookie leading the Thunder in points through most of the third quarter. He would definitely have a good chance at winning rookie of the year if Victor Wembanyama wasn’t in the picture.</p>
<p id="1dmHk1">SGA would finish off the third leading his team in points, with 19 going into the final 12 minutes of action. </p>
<p id="4R1GF3">The Raptors brought it within ten during the fourth quarter. SGA continued to put on a show for his hometown crowd, playing late into the game despite his team’s lead. It was in the last few minutes that he finally took a seat for the night.</p>
<p id="7wXTm1">In the end, he led the Thunder with 23 points, eight assists, seven rebounds.</p>
<p id="CmY37r">With his presence, the Thunder were able to hold off the depleted Raptors team and avoid them coming within a chance to make it a close game.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raptors finish with 27 turnovers, their most in a game since 1997.</p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1771347088531411010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2024</a>
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<p id="1wqu3w">On the Raptors side, Gradey Dick led the team with 21 points, just shy of his career-high of 22 points in a single game. He added five points, one assist to his stat line, and shot 4-7 from three. He also happened to yet again be the longest tenured Raptor on the floor despite only being drafted last June. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gradey Dick tonight:<br>21 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 8/15 FG, 4/7 3FG<br><br>Dick has made 64 threes this season, the most by a Raptors rookie since 2019-20. <a href="https://t.co/nuk3Hnhqp5">pic.twitter.com/nuk3Hnhqp5</a></p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1771344802598052135?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2024</a>
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<p id="R9waJX">Toronto ended up losing 123-103 to OKC, unable to overcome their 17.5 point spread. They’ve now lost nine games in a row, and will head to Washington to play tomorrow night in the second night of a back to back.</p>
<p id="RTMkfV">The Raptors also now have 12 games left in the regular season.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Raptors have lost 9 in a row, matching their longest losing streak over the last decade. <br><br>They haven't lost more than 10 games in a row since the 2010-11 season. Raptors play the Wizards tomorrow night.</p>— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) <a href="https://twitter.com/keerthikau/status/1771344092036833568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2024</a>
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https://www.raptorshq.com/2024/3/22/24109292/toronto-raptors-vs-oklahoma-city-thunder-final-123-103-raptors-start-hot-but-cant-keep-up-with-sgaChelsea Leite