 | New Orleans | 118 | Final Box Score | 122 | Toronto |  |
 A- | S. Ibaka31 MIN, 19 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 8-14 FG, 3-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 12 +/- Big time block on AD proved to be a crucial momentum shift and then he hit a huge trey from the corner late in the game. Wasn’t shy early (surprise, surprise), but delivered the goods in multiple facets of the game. | |
 B- | N. Powell18 MIN, 8 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 3-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 +/- Love the way he’s stepping into his threes now. Didn’t think he did too much wrong but the zero rebounds was probably his biggest hindrance to minutes tonight. Anunoby on the come up. | |
 B+ | J. Valanciunas27 MIN, 7 PTS, 13 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 3-9 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 10 +/- Energetic start, really pleased with his compete level tonight in a matchup where the Raptors really needed him. This was the quickest he’s looked since the opening few games, a sign that perhaps his legs are back after missing some game action. | |
 B- | K. Lowry34 MIN, 18 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST, 0 STL, 7-13 FG, 4-10 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 12 +/- Man’s still searching for a rhythm within this offense. Holiday had 24 of his 34 points in the first half and Lowry struggled to keep up with him for the most part. Two HUGE threes in the fourth, but my soul yearns for the full KLOE experience. | |
 A | D. DeRozan37 MIN, 33 PTS, 2 REB, 8 AST, 1 STL, 10-23 FG, 2-6 3FG, 11-13 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 7 +/- Passing, closing, swagging. For all Lowry’s struggles, DeRozan’s more rounded game this season has kept the Raptors afloat through the early portion and tonight was no different. Struggled from the field a bit, but the decision making was on point even if the execution was lacking at times. | |
 C+ | J. Poeltl19 MIN, 6 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 3-5 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -12 +/- Solid. As is becoming his staple, kept possessions alive on the offensive glass and positioned himself perfectly on the other end. Missed some bunnies inside and that’s definitely an area for improvement as the season and his career progresses. | |
 D+ | C. Miles17 MIN, 9 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 2-10 FG, 2-8 3FG, 3-3 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/- Struggled to hit from the outside, and such is his role that that will be often be a significant barometer of his success. | |
 B | O. Anunoby15 MIN, 8 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 3-4 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 10 +/- OG DUNKS! As has become par for the course, he got stuck in defensively in the second quarter, helping the bench unit create some transition opportunities and easy buckets. Casey turned to him in the fourth, and though he had a couple of miscues, there was no fear. | |
 D | F. VanVleet14 MIN, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 1-7 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 +/- His performance was in stark contrast to the Washington game, and he really needs to have his own offense on point to bring value to the second unit. Seemed to have his head down after a couple of his latter misses as well. | |
 C | P. Siakam13 MIN, 2 PTS, 5 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-3 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -11 +/- Gotta make those free throws. Love the confidence he’s playing with on both ends, but he’s got to make teams pay when they foul him. Minutes were limited tonight only because the starting frontcourt had it going. | |
 B+ | D. Wright13 MIN, 8 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 3-3 FG, 2-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, -11 +/- Didn’t have an answer for Holiday, either. Ran the bench unit effectively, though. Comes across as someone that shoots the three better when he has no choice and can’t afford to think about it, and that happened on both attempts tonight. | |
 D | L. Nogueira1 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 4 +/- Three fouls in one minute. You can go from 0 to 100 back to 0 real quick with Nogueira, and tonight was definitely a zero. | |
 B+ | Dwane Casey Nice move to use OG with the starters instead of Norm in the fourth, the result speaks for itself. The New Orleans frontcourt was averaging 56 points a night coming in and only managed 38 tonight. Big time credit for that. | |
Things We Saw
- Raptors are now 6-1 when DeRozan records at least four assists. He only had two turnovers tonight, and both were as a result of kick outs in an attempt to find shooters. His passing continues to be a story this season, and long may it continue.
- 38 points for Cousins and Davis combined. The Raptors bigs did a tremendous job restricting this beast of a frontcourt, and it was great to see Valanciunas successfully executing on both ends of the court late in the game.
- The Raptors have now made 29 of their last 67 three-point attempts, and hopefully this is the law of averages starting to turn in the team’s favor as Lowry rounds into form. Need Miles to get back on track, though.
