Toronto — That’s six for the six 128-111 over OKC
It’s always a good sign when this Raptor team is sharing the ball knocking down shots. It’s even better when all six players score in the double digits including all five starters.
“There was a lot of good, good stuff there,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said of his team’s balanced attack. “I really liked our transition offence tonight
On a night that welcomed Canadian superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort back home, it was the team from Canada that made an impressions. Winning their sixth straight game at home after an impressive win Tuesday versus the West leading Nuggets. This night was decided on the break, the fast break that is. The Raptors outscored Oklahoma City 23-6 on fast-break points.
“Toronto was on brand tonight,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I thought they were the aggressor. A lot of the fast breaks in the first half were off of our turnovers, which we know they’re obviously really capable of.”
When the Raptors play their brand of defence, share the ball and get out on the break, they become one of the scariest teams in the NBA. The team that many will tell you, no one wants to play on the first round of the playoffs.
Is there cause for concern? The Raptors went 20-28 for 71.4% from the free throw line, well below their 78.2% season average. When you are the third worst shooting team from three, fourth worst from the field in the NBA, you have to make your free throws. Hopefully this is just a blip because they will need those points come playoff time.
Fluent Finale: Ben Taylor. Yes, that Ben Taylor was one of the officials in the game. The Raptors out shot OKC 28-20 from the charity stripe even though they had zero free throws in the second quarter.
Now you’re more fluent!