Despite a very revamped team, the Hornets enter the game very well against the Raptors who are quite rough offensively (13-11). Nick Nurse’s players will then change the game quickly, and make a run of 11-2. On a 3-point shot, Fred VanVleet gives his team a 7-point lead (22-15). At the end of the 1st quarter, Toronto leads by 10 points (35-25).
During the first minutes of the second quarter, the gap stabilized around 10 points. Svi Mykhailiuk, author of 11 points, keeps Charlotte in the game (47-38). But what had to happen happened. Toronto will tighten its defense, and punish its opponent in transition to fly to the score (61-46). A gap of 15 points found at the break (67-52).
Very well served by Pascal Siakam, Jakob Poeltl concludes at the alley-oop to bring the advantage of the Raptors to +18 (80-62). It was then that James Bouknight decided to turn into a pressure cooker. Under his leadership, the Hornets will make a run of 12-4 to come back to 10 lengths from their opponent (84-74). Toronto, without being worried, still retains a 12-point lead at the start of the 4th quarter (101-89).
This Charlotte team is fun to watch, and fights on all balls. Despite everything, the Raptors still have a 10-point lead just under 5 minutes from the final buzzer (116-106). Fred Vanvleet’s teammates will put the lid on this match, and win logically 128-108.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
Toronto did the job. Yes, it was only Charlotte. But, even with a lot of absentees, this Hornets team had managed to trap Dallas twice then OKC. Two teams in the fight for the play-in, just like the Raptors. After a rather slow start, Toronto got their hands on the game, and were serious until the end. With this victory, Nick Nurse’s players temporarily recover 8th place in the East, and put enormous pressure on the Hawks, who will host the Mavericks overnight (midnight).
OG Anunoby injured. The Raptors winger twisted his ankle late in the game, and after trying to stay in play, he had to go to the bench. Nick Nurse mentioned a medium-severity sprain, and we wouldn’t be surprised if Anunoby was spared Tuesday or Wednesday since the Raptors are back-to-back.
Fred Vanvleet’s double-double XXL. If his marksmanship did not respond, the leader of the Raptors still achieved an exceptional performance as he finished the game with 20 points and 20 assists! A monumental double “double-double”, which allows him to beat his previous record for assists (17), but also the franchise record.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Pascal Siakam. Generous as usual, he reigned as a boss on the floor with 36 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists at 67% shooting.
✅ OG Anunoby. True Swiss army knife of the Raptors, he once again proved his quality with 23 points at 9/13 in shooting including 5/6 from 3-pointers!
✅ Svi Mykhailiuk. Taking advantage of the many absentees, the Ukrainian showed up with his career record in scoring with 26 points to 10 out of 17 in shooting including 5 out of 9 from 3-pointers!
✅ James Bouknight. Off the bench, he had a good game with 21 points at 5/7 from 3-point range. He notably heated up in the 3rd quarter with 13 points scored.
⛔️ ✅ Theo Maledon. Clumsy (4/16 in shooting), the Frenchman shone in creation with 14 assists, his new career record in passing.
THE FOLLOWING
Hornets (26-53): reception of the Raptors on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday (1H).
Raptors (39-39): trip to the Hornets overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday (1H).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llR2gknQog
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D= defensive rebound; T = Total Bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
