 | Utah | 116 | Final Box Score | 122 | Toronto |  |
 A+ | P. Siakam32 MIN, 28 PTS, 10 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 9-15 FG, 3-4 3FG, 7-7 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 12 +/- Siakam was terrific from three-point range and excellent in transition all game as usual. He put up his usual numbers across the board, finishing with a career-high 28 points. Just give this man the Most Improved Player award already. | ||||||||
 A+ | K. Leonard35 MIN, 45 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 16-22 FG, 0-3 3FG, 13-17 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 8 +/- Leonard attacked at will, got to the rim whenever he wanted and was automatic from mid-range. Utah had no way of stopping him all night long in what was an absolutely dominant performance. If I could give Kawhi a higher player grade than A+, I would. | ||||||||
 B | S. Ibaka30 MIN, 8 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 3-10 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-4 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 10 +/- Dealing with Rudy Gobert in the pick and roll is no easy feat and aside from a few mishaps, Ibaka contained the Jazz’s centre pretty well. Serge was also aggressive early on the offensive end, attacking Gobert early from the post and then forcing him to stay outside of the paint where he’s a lethal shot blocker. His offence faded after the first quarter, but containing Gobert the way he did warrants this grade. | ||||||||
 A- | F. VanVleet32 MIN, 8 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST, 0 STL, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 12 +/- Took what Utah’s defence gave him and got the Raptors’ offence into a nice flow, making some terrific passes to get teammates easy looks off cuts and in the paint. Great showing from Fred with a starter’s workload once again. | ||||||||
 C+ | D. Green31 MIN, 2 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 16 +/- Didn’t have a very prominent role in the offence tonight, which will happen on occasion. His biggest contribution tonight was corralling one of two key offensive rebounds that helped seal the game in the final minute (which obviously boosts his grade up). | ||||||||
 A- | N. Powell22 MIN, 14 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 6-11 FG, 2-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 2 BLK, 0 TO, -4 +/- Since returning from injury, Norm has shown a level of poise and confidence that seemed to be absent all of last season. When he doesn’t try to force the issue and plays within the offence, he’s a more than capable player. Powell has emerged as a far stronger option off the bench than C.J. Miles. | ||||||||
 C+ | D. Wright18 MIN, 8 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 2 STL, 4-8 FG, 0-2 3FG, 0-1 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -7 +/- Wright made some poor passes that led to two Jazz turnovers and easy points the other way in the first half. He was invisible until the fourth quarter, when he came up with a nice steal and showed some nice touch off the glass driving to the cup. He stepped up when the team needed him in VanVleet’s absence at the start of the fourth. | ||||||||
 C | O. Anunoby18 MIN, 2 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -11 +/- Had a nice steal to force Utah’s first turnover at the start of the second quarter, leading to an easy slam from Siakam on the other end. Displayed some nice touch and creativity near the rim for his lone basket of the game. | ||||||||
 B | G. Monroe18 MIN, 7 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 0-0 3FG, 3-4 FT, 2 BLK, 1 TO, -4 +/- Got beat by Utah’s pick and roll on a few occasions and allowed the Jazz to snag a few offensive rebounds they had no business grabbing. That being said, his physicality in the second half was a positive and helped the Raptors close this one out. | ||||||||
 Inc | C. Miles3 MIN, 0 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -2 +/- Miles played the final three minutes of the first half as the 10th man off the bench, but didn’t attempt a shot or do anything noteworthy. Miles has unfortunately played himself out of the rotation. Hopefully he can fix his shot soon. | ||||||||
 A | Nick Nurse Good decision to give Powell extended run off the bench and ride the hot hand. Solid job distributing minutes tonight overall. | ||||||||
Things We Saw
- Leonard can score whenever he wants to, which is obviously a terrific luxury to have. He’s now scored at least 20 points in 14 straight games and just dropped a career-high 45 points. If he was more efficient from the free throw line, he would have hit 50.
- Watching The Klaw dissect Utah’s defence in the third as part of a perfect 7/7 quarter was so entertaining. Thinking of what life would be like without him in a Raptors uniform after watching that may give me nightmares.
- Second chance points continue to kill the Raptors. This is something Toronto has to address before it really bites them come playoff time.
- VanVleet left the game briefly with a left hip contusion but was able to return midway through the fourth quarter. Hopefully, this isn’t something that lingers because the Raptors can’t afford to lose another point guard for any amount of time with Kyle Lowry already on the shelf.
- Make that five wins in a row on New Year’s day for the Raptors. Great win to start off 2019.
