Raps fall to the Jazz, extend losing streak to 7 games. Here’s the RR post-game show:
 | UTA Jazz | 115 | Final Box Score | 112 | TOR Raptors |  |
 B+ | P. Siakam33 MIN, 27 PTS, 5 REB, 9 AST, 1 STL, 9-22 FG, 4-10 3FG, 5-5 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 8 +/- He had a few nice defensive stops on Gobert, holding his own in the post a few times, and his length was a decent matchup for Gobert overall, but his offence was inconsistent. He was responsible for many of their misses early, but he came out stronger to start the second half and even got his three to fall. His playmaking is obviously much improved and that continued into tonight with his 9 dimes. A much better outing compared to his performance in Detroit and one we’re much more accustomed to. Unfortunately clutch shots just aren’t going his way this season. | |
 C+ | N. Powell37 MIN, 17 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 6-14 FG, 4-8 3FG, 1-2 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 3 +/- He covered Royce O’Neale for most of the night while Lowry and VanVleet were given the tougher defensive assignments in Conley and Mitchell. Had a nice block on Clarkson at the end of the first quarter, and he woke up a bit in the second half, but he wasn’t his usual consistent self tonight and it would’ve been better to see some more aggression from him. He did go 50% on his threes tonight though, and I think he should start getting looked at more in late game scenarios. | |
 B+ | O. Anunoby34 MIN, 15 PTS, 5 REB, 1 AST, 4 STL, 6-8 FG, 3-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 3 +/- He doesn’t even look like he’s missed a beat. His effort on defence has been sorely missed. He was switching on to anyone and was flying around like a madman on the defensive end and racked up . OG also made some nice shots and even had moments where he got to showcase his developing mid range game. Had an amazing tag-team block with Boucher on Gobert early in the second. | |
 B- | F. VanVleet40 MIN, 17 PTS, 6 REB, 9 AST, 2 STL, 6-15 FG, 2-8 3FG, 3-3 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 +/- He had his biggest impact in the first half and was relatively quiet for the rest of the game. It looked like it might’ve been a hot game for him, but it’s clear he’s still getting his feet back. Some solid defence and a better performance than the one he had against Detroit is a good sign though. With that said, I think he should be taking a lesser offensive role especially when he gets cold. It’s amusing how he can make so many ridiculous half court circus shots but also have a low percentage at the rim. | |
 B+ | K. Lowry34 MIN, 14 PTS, 5 REB, 8 AST, 0 STL, 5-9 FG, 4-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 5 +/- Kyle was Kyle. He was mostly under the radar for a large portion of the night before absolutely popping off in the 4th. He was setting up his teammates, playing pesky defence, and hit some clutch threes as a part of his 8 fourth quarter points. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough as yet another shot with the game on the line didn’t fall for the Raps tonight. | |
 B- | C. Boucher20 MIN, 16 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 6-10 FG, 3-4 3FG, 1-2 FT, 2 BLK, 1 TO, -10 +/- Some solid threes, drives, blocks. It was a textbook Boucher game, right down to not being able to match up with the bigger and stronger centre on the other team. Nurse’s criticisms that he needs to develop his in-between defensive game still seems to hold true. | |
 C- | M. Flynn17 MIN, 3 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1-4 FG, 1-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- Bullied on screens, missed some easy shots, including a wide open shot from the midrange that honestly should’ve been a floater. Hit one wide open three in the second quarter. He was mostly out there for cardio tonight. One of the bench players Nurse is trying to build trust with, so maybe we’ll see some more encouraging signs in the games to come. | |
 C- | P. Watson14 MIN, 1 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -11 +/- Checked in during the first quarter and had active hands throughout the game, but the mistakes were there. He fell asleep on defence at times, left Royce O’Neale open in the corner and then fouled Mitchell shortly after. Fouled Mitchell on a three point attempt in the second quarter. After racking up 4 fouls we didn’t see him again. Regardless, his energy was good and I can imagine he’s going to be one of the 7th-9th players in the rotation that Nurse is going to start calling on because he doesn’t have many other options. Didn’t even get a shot up. | |
 Inc | A. Baynes6 MIN, 2 PTS, 1 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -5 +/- Saw him for the first time in the second quarter, surprisingly. He quickly put points on the board cutting backdoor off a Pascal dime. Then he wasn’t seen again. | |
 B | Nick Nurse Not really sure what else he could’ve done. Players didn’t hit their shots when they needed to. He called some good timeouts and he gave some guys a chance who we normally don’t see, so there wasn’t much to complain about with regards to Nick tonight. | |
Things We Saw
- OG Anunoby is a major part of the team and without a doubt their most important player on the defensive end with his ability to guard all five positions. His return to the lineup is no doubt going to give the Raptors and their fans massive sighs of relief. Let’s be done with Covid now, yeah?
- Fred started hot but cooled off after halftime. It almost felt as though he and Pascal traded shot-making ability at the half, because as soon as Fred got cold, Pascal got hot. Norm had his moments but was overall inconsistent. The Raptors are going to need everyone to be on their game if they have any hope of making a late season standings push.
- The Jazz had 41 free throws to the Raptors’ 14. It’s hard to compete with that large of a discrepancy every night in the free throw department, but the Jazz have far more players capable of drawing free throws and hanging down low than the Raptors do.
- Donovan Mitchell is a bad man.
