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The Raptors came away with a 123-117 win in Charlotte on Wednesday to end a long, frustrating road trip. They didn’t play much defence, but sizzled offensively. Against a team as bad as the Hornets, it was enough. With the NBA trade deadline arriving this could be the last time we mark some of these players. Here’s the report card:
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RJ BARRETT A-
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Barrett shook off a slow first quarter, to contribute in the second before being great in the third and especially the fourth quarters. The Raptors needed everything he provided, especially his two three-pointers late. He should have gone to the free throw line more than once and wasn’t great on defence, like his teammates, but this was a good one from Barrett.
IMMANUEL QUICKLEY B+
Quickley seems to be figuring things out. This was his second zero turnover game in his last four (he has only three turnovers and 27 assists over that span) as he learns to be a full-time point guard, instead of microwave scorer. He also mixed his scoring from inside and out well. The lack of defence is the only concern so far.
GARY TRENT JR. B+
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Trent continues to scorch from three. He hit four more treys on eight attempts and is above 50% from deep over the last month. Trent also had three steals in what might have been his last game as a Raptor. Our best guess is he remains though. He’s been playing well and fits with the group and we’re not sure the offers will be enough to make sense to part with him. But we’ll know Thursday.
JAKOB POELTL B
Poeltl got what he wanted on offence and did what he could defensively. He hit 5-of-7 shots, grabbed 12 rebounds and was OK guarding the paint. Poeltl was the least of Toronto’s problems on the night.
BRUCE BROWN B
The most likely Raptor to go said adios, if that’s the case, with a steady all-around effort. It was a good palate cleanser after his worst game as a Raptor in Oklahoma City. Brown had 12 points, missing only one shot, four assists, three rebounds and a steal in 22 minutes as the team’s sixth man. He came as advertised after being acquired from Indiana in the Pascal Siakam trade. If Brown does go on Thursday, he’ll have only played three home games with Toronto.
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DENNIS SCHRODER B-
Another tidy outing by the backup point guard. Good shooting, five assists against two turnovers, some rebounds and a team-high seven free throw attempts. He saved a lot of his offence (12 of his 16 points) for the second half, but he got them when they were needed.
SCOTTIE BARNES C+
The all-star wasn’t in peak form, but when he wanted to go at the Hornets they didn’t know what to do with him. He was quiet at times, dominant at others. He’s capable of a lot more, but it’s understandable he didn’t have it at the end of a long road trip.
INC: GRADEY DICK, THAD YOUNG
THREE STARS
1 Miles Bridges
2 RJ Barrett
3 Immanuel Quickley
HM: Gary Trent Jr., Jakob Poeltl, Cody Martin, Brandon Miller
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