Boucher scores franchise-record 47 points in loss to Oklahoma

Oklahoma City Blue 133, Raptors 905 126 | Box Score 
Two-ways: Deonte Burton, Tyler Davis (Blue), Chris Boucher, Jordan Loyd (905)

Despite a franchise record 47 points to go with 8 rebounds and 9 (!!) blocks from Chris Boucher, the Oklahoma City Blue snapped the Raptors 905’s 7-game winning streak in tight battle on Wednesday. The Blue shot 52% while holding the lead from the midway point of the first until the final buzzer.

905 Head Coach Jama Mahlalela had a sarcastic but resonant message for his team before Wednesday’s contest.

“For the 50 905 fans that are out there and the 5 million Raptor fans it’s gonna be a pretty fun day. The best in the East and the best in the West playing in both leagues,” Mahlalela said, referring to the parent club’s game in Golden State.

The game didn’t start well for Boucher, who picked up two fouls early, and unlike the 905’s last game where Mahlalela let Boucher play through (and pick up his 3rd foul), he was subbed out. The offence mostly stalled from there, while the Blue’s Scotty Hopson poured in 16 points, leading to a 9-point deficit for the 905 after 1.

The second quarter was a clinic in execution by the Blue, who boast the G League’s top rated offence, at 113.7 points per 100 possessions. Deonte Burton got it started with a James Johnson-esque “cocked joint back / banged on’em” dunk. By quarter’s end the Blue had the quintessential modern NBA stat line – 5-for-13 from deep, 44 points in the paint (on about 140 alley oops) and 12 fast break points. Burton also bookended the quarter with a facial on Boucher. 76-58 Blue at the half, Boucher’s 21 1st-half points an afterthought.

The third quarter was a throw-back to the 90s, with the Blue dumping it down to Davis in the post to go to work on Boucher. The refs let a couple Davis elbows to Boucher’s chest go, and Davis threw in an array of pretty post moves. He had 11 points in the frame, and 24 total thru three quarters. Boucher answered by going into Game Genie mode with his usual array of finishing around the hoop, dunks and a three to the tune of 39 points by the end of the frame.

“Everybody that I play – it’s a show for me,” Boucher said of bis battle with the G League’s best bigs. “These guys are coming at me every time so it’s only going to get me better. I’ll get to where these guys won’t be able to do that no more (overpower him physically) because I’ll be ready for that.”

The 905’s offence cooked in the fourth, but they simply could not get stops when they needed. Midway through the quarter was what looked like the backbreaker – Boucher went up to catch an entry pass and was clobbered, with no foul. Boucher missed a wild shot, berated the offending ref, and Blue forward Donte Grantham threw down a fast break dunk. Instead of a six point deficit the margin was 10.

With all hope lost, the 905 found another gear, holding the Blue scoreless for two minutes, while Jordan Loyd hit a pair of threes to pull within 3 with 2:09 to play. But the Blue answered with a Hopson hook shot and fade to finally put away the home team.

Notes

• Two-Way 905 Player Notes:
  • Boucher – how much gushing is too much? The alley oops and threes are standard by now, but what’s becoming enticing is a subtle move where Boucher drives, his man is in perfect guarding position, but Boucher counters by leaning back and floating in a shot from anywhere inside the paint. He’ll benefit greatly from that wrinkle in the NBA. Also – yes, nine blocks is insane, but early foul trouble hindered him defensively, as the Blue’s Big Men combined for 50 points. “Today I was going for everything, it kind of put in trouble because I was leaving my feet,
    Boucher said. “They would pass it to the open guy and they’d out-rebound us (because of being out of position).” Defensively Boucher not only gave up 60 pounds to Davis, but took a number of blatant, uncalled shots to the chest and jaw. “The refs are right there not calling it and we’re going on the other side – two fouls in the first quarter and they’re not even close to what Davis is doing,” Boucher said. “In my head I don’t know what they’re watching but, for me, it’s just to get strong, and to keep working.”
  • Loyd – also battled early foul trouble and was in constant confrontation with the referees. Offensively he looked fine early, slicing into the lane and looking to finish or create in the paint. But the bunnies weren’t falling. Defensively Loyd (and the rest of the team) had a lot of trouble guarding the Blue’s pick and roll. Then the second half came. Loyd adjusted his pick and roll coverage, and the shots started to fall  on the other end. After going 2-for-5 and a minus-12 in the first half, he went 9-for-13 the rest of the way, including 5-for-6 from deep, and an even rating overall. Boucher gets all the pub but Loyd has now scored 30-plus is four of his last seven games. He’s just as critical to the 905’s success as Boucher, or close to it.
• Other 905 Player Notes
  • Kyle Collinsworth does not possess the conventional speed and athleticism of a two-guard, but he makes up for it in herky-jerky fun. Without getting lift he’s able to get off all types of shots at the rim while shot blockers flail away. His numbers aren’t the most eye-popping – 11 points on 5-for-9 in 34 minutes, but he’s among the most reliable non-two-way players on the 905. (He’d like to clean up the four turnovers, though)
• Two-Way Blue Player Notes
  • Deonte Burton can leap. High. His explosiveness had the 905 on their heels most of the night, leading to (by my count) four dunks – all of which were highly stylish.
  • Tyler Davis – ultra-physical. 24 points, 10-for-12 from the foul line, and 16 rebounds, in 26 minutes. The refs were letting his clearouts go and he took notice, much to Boucher’s chagrin.
• IMPORTANT ADMIN NOTE
  • Once again this year, the code REPUBLIC905 will get you a discount on Raptors 905 tickets. Do it! The team is fun.