Raptors 905 (8-2) def. Sioux Falls Skyforce (8-3); 101-81 | Box Score
Assignees: None.
The 905 returned home to the Hershey Centre after a perfect 3-0 road trip and kept the good times rolling. The first game back at home; against one of the top teams in the league after a week away was always going to present an interesting challenge. Home teams can get a little lax in that first game back in familiar surroundings, but it turned out to be arguably the feistiest game of the young season, and entertaining throughout.
The home side showed good assertiveness early on with a commitment to attacking the paint. CJ Leslie got them started with four quick points in the low post, before E.J. Singler got himself going with a nice pull-up J on the left baseline, a dribble drive for a pair of free throws, and Jack Armstrong’s favourite; a three-ball following an offensive board with the defense scattered.
Despite having the D-League’s second-fastest pace at 108.25 possessions per 48 minutes and playing like it in the first quarter, the Skyforce only managed 18 points on 23 field-goal attempts. They shot 30% from the field but stayed in it courtesy of four makes from beyond the arc.
John Jordan was up for this one even before the tip, showing off this impressive windmill during the warmups.
.@nbadleague I think @Johnjordanbball is ready to defend his 🏆#RoadToTheSix https://t.co/QjBtlV6iue
— Raptors 905 (@Raptors905) December 10, 2016
That energy carried over into the game with seven points, two assists, and a minor tussle with the Skyforce’s Jabril Trawick in a battle for a loose ball; all within his first six minutes. He had a bit of luck as well, when an alley-oop attempt to Yanick Moreira hit the backboard first, but Moreira was still able to make something of it and finish the play.
The game stayed close throughout the half before Sioux Falls took a 43-41 halftime lead with both teams having their share of mini ruts and runs.
The second half got off to a dubious start for the 905, as CJ Leslie picked up his fourth foul less than two minutes into the second half. A transition triple by Jarrod Uthoff following a Tavares block with about 5:40 to go gave the 905 their first fast-break points of the game, and this fact was indicative of exactly how the Skyforce have been successful this season. Having the second-best defensive rating along with the second-fastest pace is only possible with excellent transition defense. This team understands that in order to have fun getting up the floor, they must get back with the same gusto.
Okaro White caused the 905 all sorts of problems with his athleticism and range in the first three quarters. He dropped 16 points to go along with 14 boards, a couple of three-pointers, and five free-throw attempts to keep Sioux Falls within a point heading into the fourth quarter.
With under nine minutes to go, John Jordan sunk a three and drew a charge to tilt the momentum in the 905’s favour for the remainder of the contest. Brady Heslip got hot after a quiet start with 13 fourth-quarter points, before Toupane setup the most emotionally charged moment of the night after drawing a foul on a three-point attempt.
Nevada Smith, head coach of the Skyforce, was completely outraged by the call, arguably because of a previous no-call when his team had the ball. The referees ejected him with the red mist clearly having taken over, and the game was effectively over after four makes out of five at the line that gave the 905 a 91-81 lead with 2:53 to go. The 905 blitzed their opponents 35-16 in the fourth quarter, and finished with a surprising 20-point victory after the way the first 36 minutes played out.
What Toupane has provided in offensive firepower to Jerry Stackhouse’s bench unit, Tavares has provided in defensive resistance. Toupane finished the game as solid as ever, with 22 points and six boards, while Tavares was a beast once again with 10 points, 17 boards, six blocks and three steals. He was even able to stay out of foul trouble in this one.
The 905 are rolling right now, and coach Stackhouse will be particularly thrilled about this one. The 905 played to their opponent a bit in their last game against the Greensboro Swarm, but they were gamers right from the tip in this one.
Notes:
• Give John Jordan the game ball. It was his best game of the season against a quality opponent and his energy was vital in getting the 905 over the hump.
• Will Sheehey was quietly solid with 12 points, and gave the team some important buckets early on when they needed it.
• Heslip shot the lights out from beyond the arc in the game before with seven makes from 13 three-point attempts, but only made two of his nine attempts in this one.
• The Skyforce are fun to watch. They’ve got some great athletes and their pace of play makes the most of it.
• The 905 now get five days off before a home bout with the Oklahoma City Blue on Thursday, December 15th at 7:30pm EST.
