Raptors drop a tough one in OKC.
 | Raptors | 113 | Final Box Score | 132 | Thunder |  |
 B | O. Anunoby31 MIN, 13 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 6-15 FG, 0-2 3FG, 1-1 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, -24 +/- OG has been on a defensive tear of late, but even his high level of play on that end couldn’t stop a red-hot thunder team. The numbers are a bit deceiving for OG tonight. He got to the rim well despite not getting the calls. More offensive production would have been nice, but this loss doesn’t fall solely on OG’s shoulders. | |
 C+ | S. Barnes29 MIN, 15 PTS, 3 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 5-13 FG, 1-3 3FG, 4-6 FT, 2 BLK, 2 TO, -4 +/- Whatever it was they told Scottie at half-time, it must have worked because he came out of the break looking and playing entirely different. His shot selection and energy in the first half were less than ideal, but he got to the rim with force to start the second half. It would have been nice to avoid it altogether, but at least that was nice to see from an otherwise lacklustre performance. | |
 C | C. Koloko24 MIN, 2 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 0 +/- The rookie has come back to earth a bit from his hot start earlier in the season. This isn’t to say he hasn’t been contributing, but more so it’s clearer now that we’re watching a rookie go through the motions a bit. | |
 C | G. Trent Jr.24 MIN, 12 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 4-10 FG, 0-2 3FG, 4-5 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -8 +/- Gary felt pretty invisible on offense at times in a game where the team could have really used some juice offensively. The Shai matchup isn’t exactly favourable for him either. Regardless, it wasn’t enough from Gary tonight. | |
 B- | F. VanVleet29 MIN, 15 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 5-12 FG, 3-7 3FG, 2-5 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, -22 +/- The all-star did what he could to keep the Raptors in this one, but it just wasn’t meant to be. It was fun to watch Freddie run more actions off the ball, something the Raptors should continue to do as the roster regains health later in the season. | |
 C+ | T. Young09 MIN, 4 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -10 +/- The veteran was actually quite productive in his minutes tonight despite struggling early. The injuries may have forced Coach Nurse’s hand, but Thad should be a consistent member of the rotation going forward. | |
 B- | C. Boucher31 MIN, 20 PTS, 12 REB, 1 AST, 2 STL, 6-9 FG, 0-2 3FG, 8-10 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, -7 +/- Even Boucher couldn’t bring this team the shot of life they so desperately needed. He was relentless on the glass but, much like the rest of the Raptors, was lackadaisical on the defensive side of the ball. | |
 C | O. Porter Jr.17 MIN, 6 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2-5 FG, 1-3 3FG, 1-1 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -12 +/- Porter has been a welcome and necessary addition amidst a now-thin Raptors rotation. More shooting is always welcome on any Raptors team, but Porter couldn’t shoot them back into this one. | |
 C- | D. Banton17 MIN, 5 PTS, 1 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 2-8 FG, 1-4 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -1 +/- It feels like Banton has gotten away from what made him so successful. The speed and the energy off the bench don’t seem to be there like they once were. Banton is a player who needs to hustle to succeed, and he seems to have put that to the wayside. | |
 Inc | M. Flynn12 MIN, 12 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 3-7 FG, 3-4 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -3 +/- Garbage Time | |
 B- | J. Hernangomez17 MIN, 9 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST, 2 STL, 3-4 FG, 2-3 3FG, 1-2 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -4 +/- If there’s anything at all positive to take from this one it might be the first good stretch from the Spaniard. He donned a big smile on his face after hitting a three, and the energy on the defensive side has been a noticeable improvement as well. Anything he can give you at this point is dearly welcomed. | |
 Inc | K. Birch00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- Injury | |
 Inc | P. Achiuwa00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- Injury | |
 Inc | J. Champagnie00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- NA | |
 Inc | J. Dowtin Jr.00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- NA | |
 Inc | R. Harper Jr.00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- NA | |
 Inc | P. Siakam00 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 +/- Injury | |
 C- | Nick Nurse It’s too early to put all the blame on Nurse for what was a poor effort from the team early on, but what is absolutely clear is that more could have been done to prevent them from falling into the pit. | |
Things We Saw
- The Raptors clearly didn’t care about closing out on Dort tonight, which came back to bite them. Dort shot 3/3 from three in the first quarter as the Raptors’ tendency to leave shooters open in the corners has been at best hit or miss.
- Nurse used all his active players tonight (outside of Birch who, while listed active, did not dress) as the energy from the group was clearly not where it should have been. It’ll be interesting to see when or if he turns to guys like Champagnie or even Dowtin in these situations, which he had done in similar situations last season.
