The Toronto Raptors have had their fair share of lowlights this season, as the Raptors limped to a 2-8 start and have only recently started to make up some ground.
Despite the very slow start, Nick Nurse and the Raptors proved that when the chips are down, they are capable of putting together some memorable performances every now and again. When Nurse’s perimeter defense is clicking and their array of shooters connect from deep, the Raptors showed that they can take down some of the best teams in the league.
These three Toronto Raptors games were the best performances the team has had all season long
3. Jan. 8 (144-123) vs. Sacramento Kings
The Toronto Raptors finally woke up on offense against Sacramento
Toronto’s West Coast trip did bring them some gut-punch losses, but their first game against the Kings showed what the Raptors can do when everything is clicking on the offensive end. It was Fred VanVleet who led the charge on the evening, scoring 34 points on 13-22 shooting while making five of his nine attempts from three-point range. Chris Boucher ate up Marvin Bagler and Richaun Holmes on the inside, scoring 23 points and pulling down 10 times. Even Terence Davis chimed in on the fun with 18 points of his own in the 144-point outburst.
While Sacramento remains the worst defensive team in the league, an excuse that can be used to slightly write off this performance, it was beautiful to see all of Toronto’s much-maligned bench start to turn it on just like they did during their championship season. While the 123 points allowed are not ideal, this was by far Toronto’s best offensive performance of the year. As tempting as it is to blow this roster up, nights like this one prove that they can get hot from beyond the arc and make some noise.
2. Jan 22 (101-81) vs. Miami Heat
The Toronto Raptors shut down Miami without Jimmy Butler
The Raptors could’ve folded the Heat beat the stuffing out of them in their prior matchup, but Nurse was able to rally the troops and summon what has been their best defensive effort of the season. The Heat made just seven of their 31 attempts from deep, and Kendrick Nunn looked like the only player that had any interest in putting the ball in the basket. While Miami scored just 81 points, a total that is by far the fewest points Toronto has allowed in a game this season, Norman Powell and OG Anunoby combined for 44 points to lead the offense as the Raptors extinguished the Heat.
The Raptors’ perimeter defense is something that Nurse and the squad could hang their hat on, both in their championship season and in their up-and-down 2020-21 campaign. Butler and Tyler Herro would certainly have given the Heat more teeth on the offensive end, but Miami likes to chuck it from deep, and the Raptors made a point of taking their preferred weapon away and making them play left-handed. If they could shut down a team of Miami’s caliber, there is still hope that they could make a playoff run.
1. Jan. 18 (113-95) vs. Dallas Mavericks
Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher led the Toronto Raptors to a win over Luka Doncic and Dallas
Purely based on what this matchup looked like on paper, Dallas should have beat the brakes off of the Raptors. Not only was a Mavericks team with some size taking on a Raptors team that lacks interior depth, but the star power of Luka Doncic could give Dallas the edge based on pure talent alone. Despite all the factors working against them, Toronto took them behind the woodshed. Dallas didn’t get much going on the offensive end in this game, as Doncic mustered just 15 points while Tim Hardaway Jr. failed to make a single one of his 12 shots.
On the offensive end, Kyle Lowry scored 23 points while pulling down nine rebounds and seven assists. Pascal Siakam chipped in with 19 points, while Anunoby went for a double-double after scoring 13 and grabbing 11 boards. Not only did the Raptors shut down the opposing offense and light things up from every level of the court, but they did so against one of the best players of any age in the entire league.
In a season where it looks like the Raptors can’t both play offense and defense at the same time, the Dallas game serves as a reminder that this is a complete basketball team that can put together a dominant performance on a moment’s notice.
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