Raptors news: Chris Boucher update, Gary Trent Jr. makes history

There was almost nothing positive to take away from the Toronto Raptors’ dismantling at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans, as Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes combining for six points show just how bad things got. Gary Trent Jr. was the one player who really stood out.

Trent put up 35 points, the most a Raptor has ever scored off the bench, going 12-20 from the field and 6-11 from 3-point range. After finding out that Thad Young was capable of performing well as the starting center during Pascal Siakam’s absence, Nick Nurse decided to keep Young in the starting lineup while sending Trent to the bench.

While most players would be devastated by a demotion like that, especially in a contract year, Trent seemed to take it on the chin and come out a much more focused player at the other end. This might be a move that the Raptors decide to keep for the remainder of the season.

“Whatever opportunity is given to me, I’m going to do my best to go out there and showcase the work I’ve put in,” Trent said to reporters after the game. “Anything coach draws up is a good thing.” Trent has taken this move in stride, which could help the Raptors get some pop out of their maligned second unit.

More Raptors news

• Chris Boucher left the loss against the Pelicans after suffering a nasty fall. Nurse seems to think that this injury is nothing to worry about, deeming Boucher “fine” in his postgame availability. That’s a welcome sigh of relief for what has become a beat-up roster.
• Pascal Siakam is just 28 points away from passing former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani on the Raptors’ all-time scoring list. Overtaking Bargnani will put him in fifth place. It might be a while before he moves up that list again, however. Vince Carter is in fourth place with 9,420 points, while Bargnani has 6,581.

NBA news

• The Raptors’ path to an Atlantic Division title in the next few years just got even tougher. Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics agreed to a two-year extension with center Al Horford, who is still a productive big man and deadly scorer at 36 years old.
• Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker put up 51 points as the Western Conference leaders took home a win against the rival Kings. No Raptor has hit 50 points since Fred VanVleet set the franchise record for points in a game with 54 two years ago against the Magic.