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Takeaways: Toronto Raptors use big night from Serge Ibaka to dispatch Pistons

By Michael Walton

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 18: Pascal Siakam #43, and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors hi-five each other against the Detroit Pistons on December 18, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 18: Pascal Siakam #43, and Serge Ibaka #9 of the Toronto Raptors hi-five each other against the Detroit Pistons on December 18, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Marc Gasol (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Injury bug bites again

With a little over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, Norman Powell left the game with what appeared to be a serious left shoulder injury. Of course, we won’t know the severity of the injury until further details come from the Toronto Raptors, but either way, this injury could not have come at a worse time for Powell, who was in the midst of some of the best basketball of his career.

In December Powell is averaging 17.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game on an incredibly efficient 54.7-percent shooting from the field. Powell played 33 minutes before his injury on Wednesday, posting a stat line of 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

More than offense, Powell was locked in on defense in this one. He and the rest of the Toronto Raptors guards did a great job of chasing the Pistons handful of 3-point shooters off the line and contested a good number of Detroit’s 35 attempts from 3-point range. Powell was a +11 in plus/minus despite his quiet shooting night, a testament to his growing ability to effect games positively outside of scoring.

The other disappointing injury for the Toronto Raptors was losing plus/minus-monster Marc Gasol, whose positive effect on this team is still underrated by those outside of Raptors’ faithful. Gasol played less than 10 minutes before he went down with a left hamstring injury in the first quarter. In the absence of the mountain of a man that is Gasol, the Raptors protected the rim by committee. They collected six blocks—more than their season average—with three different players contributing to that total.

In this win, and as they have for much of the past two years, the Raptors showed the ability to finish off games no matter who is on the floor, a testament to their great depth.

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