You didn’t have to have a heart condition to follow this match! In front of their home crowd at Scotiabank Arena in TorontoTHE RaptorsIt front of Wizardsindeed offered a stunning show, composed of two acts.
The first in the first half, completely missed by the Canadian club: both in attack (45 points at 41% on shots) and in defense (64 points conceded at 63% on shots)… Then the second after the break, when Darko Rajakovic’s men turned things around from midway through the third quarter, gradually clawing back from a 23-point deficit until a big Pascal Siakam (39 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 interceptions) takes down the opponent for good with a mid-range shot 7 seconds from the end, to validate this perfect “hold-up”.
Author of three first quarters not far from perfect, the Wizards of a very solid Kyle Kuzma (34 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists but 6 turnovers) can only blame themselves as they scuttled themselves in “money-time” with very questionable offensive choices (7/19 on the entire fourth quarter), facing a Toronto defense completely reinvigorated by a momentum absolutely relentless…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– The Raptors, the embodiment of inconsistency. Capable of beating the Bucks and the Mavericks but also losing against Portland and almost against Washington, the Raptors are indeed unpredictable, and that is unfortunately not a compliment. Every evening, we wonder about the face that Darko Rajakovic’s team will display, and it is in fact a summary of the level of this team and the season that awaits it: stuck between mediocrity and impressive flashes, but too rare. This match against the Wizards was a mix of both, with a catastrophic first half, followed by a much more convincing second half.
– Pascal Siakam, symbol of a late awakening. Amorphous in the first half, like his team, with only 10 points on the clock when he returned to the locker room, the Cameroonian power forward raised the tone in the second period: 22 points in the third quarter alone. time, then 7 additional points in the last act, including the “game-winner”. If we are tempted to think that this team is that of Scottie Barnes, it is difficult to deny that Pascal Siakam, with his ability to create his shot, remains for the moment the “go-to-guy” in hot moments…
– The Wizards are still cracking at the end. Sunday night, the Wizards suffered a 10-0 loss in money time in Brooklyn. This time, the Raptors give them a 21-1 to finish the match! The inexperience of young people is very costly.
– Bilal Coulibaly continues to shine. Despite the defeat, Wizards supporters can find comfort in thinking of the game of the young French winger, author of 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 interceptions without any loss of ball, in 33 minutes coming off the bench. Victor Wembanyama’s former teammate with the Mets 92 is progressing and gaining more and more confidence visibly game after game, and it’s very satisfying to watch, especially since he plays particularly fair.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
