Raptors Rapture
Fansided

5 strangest single-game Raptors performances

By Brian Boake

Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Rafael Araujo during the first quarter. The Bulls defeated the Raptors 127-106, at the United Center in Chicago, Illlinois, Wednesday, April 19, 2006. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images)
Chicago Bulls' Luol Deng is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Rafael Araujo during the first quarter. The Bulls defeated the Raptors 127-106, at the United Center in Chicago, Illlinois, Wednesday, April 19, 2006. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune/MCT via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next

The Raptors have had their share of excellent games from their top players. Sometimes the other guys stick their nose in. Here are 5 great games by lesser-known Toronto ballers.

MEMPHIS – MARCH 4: Donyell Marshall #42 of the Toronto Raptors grabs a rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedexForum on March 4, 2005 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies won 86-75. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS – MARCH 4: Donyell Marshall #42 of the Toronto Raptors grabs a rebound during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedexForum on March 4, 2005 in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies won 86-75. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2005 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

As we ramp up for what should be an exciting season, I thought it might be fun to consider strange games in Raptors history.

This is a Raptors site, so my selections are those in which an obscure or short-service Toronto player did something extraordinary. For example, I’m not going to retell the story of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game.  I stayed up very late to watch that impossible performance from Los Angeles.

A couple of my selections are more noteworthy for who put up the numbers, rather than how massive they were.

There were some honourable mentions:

  • Donyell Marshall buries 12 three-balls against the 76ers, March 13, 2005
  • Rafael Araujo scores 14 points (we don’t have a high bar for him), January 9, 2005
  • Pape Sow has a 13 point – 15 rebound double-double, March 31, 2006
  • Matt (The Red Rocket has to get a mention!) Bonner hits 5 long balls, March 5, 2006
  • I wanted to work in the 2004 game in which the Warriors scored one(!) basket in Q4, allowing the undeserving Raptors to wipe out a 16-point deficit and win in OT. Sadly, no Raptor played well enough. MoPete hit the winning three.

There remained lots of fluky efforts to chose from. An otherwise cup-of-coffee player goes berserk to lead off, in our fifth-ranked memorable game.