SUBJECT: Raptors (28-11)
GAME 1 OF 4
1/8 @ BKN • W, 114-113 • OT
Toronto-Brooklyn lived up to the billing as "Game of the Night" on Monday. It took an extra period for DeMar DeRozan & co. to dispatch Coach Kenny Atkinson's scrappy Nets.
DeRozan was able to keep up his red-hot scoring, tallying a game-high 35! pts + the game-winning (and-1) floater. But defensively, Toronto didn't have the same energy, allowing a career night from Spencer Dinwiddie (31!, 8 dimes, 5 boards) & surrendering 113 pts.
However, it was still a very physical contest - one that saw Kyle Lowry leave with a bruised tailbone in OT.
Lowry's listed as day-to-day, did not play v. MIA the very next night...
GAME 2 OF 4
1/9 v. TOR • L, 90-89
...and it showed! Kyle Lowry's absence was felt during last night's narrow defeat v. MIA.
Another physical affair, the game was highlighted by a quick "fight" between Serge Ibaka & James Johnson that saw both parties throw punches & get tossed. Already without their All-Star PG, losing Ibaka did nothing but further exaggerate Toronto's offensive struggles.
DeRozan suffered through a very rough shooting night: 25 pts on 10/29 from the field.
A couple bright spots, however, was the play of Delon Wright* - START: 13, 7 & 4 dimes - & the defense (for the most part): allowed 40% shooting (on a b2b), MIA converted just 4 triples.
Ironically, though, it was the defense that let them down in the end: there was miscommunication defending the final possession, resulting in a game-winning drive by Wayne Ellington.
Rough one to drop w/ Cleveland & Golden State lurking around the corner. Can Toronto recover and finish above .500 for the week?
*my selection for Star UnderDOG of the Week!
QUICK NOTES
J. Valanciunas must be more consistent, demanding of the rock*: 21 & 13 boards @ BKN, 8 & 3 boards v. MIA
Fred VanVleet: 19 minutes in b2b games; 8 & 3 boards v. MIA
Norman Powell back in the rotation? Played 2:08 (end of 1H) @ BKN, almost 24 minutes v. MIA -- Coach Casey will lean on Powell heavier if Lowry misses more time
Got outrebounded by 27!!! v. MIA (64-37)
Only 15 dimes v. MIA (w/o Lowry)
*bump!