Hey! It doesn’t matter!!
 | Raptors | 94 | Final Box Score | 105 | Knicks |  |
 C+ | O. Anunoby25 MIN, 8 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 1 STL, 3-9 FG, 0-5 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, -11 +/- Didn’t have an avenue to easy looks, so tried to carve out a feel for self creation and returned mediocre results. That’s okay though, he’s getting back into the swing of things. A couple nice downhill decisions, some range and stopping power on defense. That’s alright. | |
 C+ | S. Barnes22 MIN, 7 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 3-5 FG, 1-2 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -7 +/- Similar to OG, without the NOS-powered creation of Siakam to work off of, he was facing more engaged defenses and didn’t burn anyone. Also similar to OG, he made some nice playmaking decisions. Chilling out, gearing up for his first playoffs. | |
 C+ | K. Birch19 MIN, 4 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -4 +/- A release valve and a backstop. Did fine at both jobs, but had less work available to him in the former. A fine game from him. | |
 C | A. Brooks18 MIN, 3 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 1-4 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -12 +/- He thrives when he’s next to more prominent players. His handle got harassed, he didn’t have much success setting up sets, and he didn’t really hit his shots. That’s okay, though. | |
 B | G. Trent Jr.31 MIN, 17 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 8-17 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, -7 +/- The focal point tonight. Got some difficult shots up, and even some at the rim. The reps came early and often, and that’s what you’d want to see with the dance approaching. A meh game, but again, that’s fine. | |
 A- | T. Young20 MIN, 5 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 2-3 FG, 1-1 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, +16 +/- He’s in fine form. The Raptors actually got to rely on some of his classic ‘Thagic’ playmaking out of DHO’s and split-action. He did a tremendous job defensively as well. | |
 A | C. Boucher32 MIN, 21 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 0 STL, 6-14 FG, 3-7 3FG, 6-7 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- He was getting after it, man. That length was big on defense, he filled lanes, pursued rebounds, and hit shots on offense. What more could you want? He answers the call yet again, but in a loss. | |
 C+ | P. Achiuwa26 MIN, 9 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 4-13 FG, 1-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, -7 +/- An interesting and intriguing compilation of creation failures – which is absolutely fine. His improvisational bent is likely to change a playoff game at some point, and he’s seeing what he’s got. | |
 C | Y. Watanabe11 MIN, 4 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 1 STL, 1-4 FG, 0-3 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -16 +/- Made his first business decision, as he got out of Toppin’s way for a dunk. An underwhelming offensive performance, but this isn’t the role he’s meant to have anyway. | |
 C | M. Flynn28 MIN, 10 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 4-14 FG, 2-6 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, +1 +/- Similar to Brooks, he failed to create for others at a level that’s necessary. Didn’t pop as a shotmaker or playmaker, and that’s totally fine. Underwhelming, in a non-destructive way. | |
 Inc | S. Mykhailiuk8 MIN, 6 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 2-6 FG, 2-5 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -8 +/- Come in, shoot as much as you can. Let that thing fly. | |
 A- | Nick Nurse Gave a lot of guys minutes, and didn’t play Siakam or VanVleet. Good. | |
Things We Saw
- What a game from Obi Toppin! He was tremendous as a flyer, a shooter, an overall presence on both ends of the floor. I hope he’s turned the corner in his career.
- Immanuel Quickley loves to crab dribble more than anyone else in the world. Holy moly.
- There’s hardly anything to take away from this game. None of the roles these players filled were realistic, and the team defense wasn’t *too* bad either. Off to the postseason!
