Raptors news: Nick Nurse jinxes Toronto, Kyrie praises Fred VanVleet
By Mike Luciano
Things have gone from bad to worse for Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors, who have lost seven of their last nine games. Nick Nurse losing seven of his last nine games was bad enough, but blowing double-digit second-quarter leads in two straight games while getting swept by Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets are embarrassing.
Irving put the cherry on top of this lousy sundae by nailing a buzzer-beating 3-pointer in VanVleet’s face. While this game did serve as Yuta Watanabe’s Toronto homecoming following his departure in the offseason, the Raptors probably wished he didn’t have one of his best career performances.
Watanabe scored 21 points in 17 minutes, including hitting an absolute dagger of a 3-pointer that put the Nets up by two and set the stage for the Irving game-winner. Nick Nurse definitely tested fate with some of his pregame comments. Former Raptors have really been burning him lately.
After Kings guard Terence Davis had his way with the Toronto defense, Nurse hoped that Watanabe wouldn’t “go crazy tonight.” All he did was have one of the best offensive games of his career and help a Nets team playing without Patty Mills or Seth Curry score 119 points on the road. Oops.
From earlier, Nurse on Watanabe after another former Raptor, Terence Davis, went off against them Wednesday: "We just hope he doesn't do what Terence did the other night... Hopefully Yuta doesn't go crazy tonight."
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2022
Naturally, Yuta so far: 14 pts, 5-6 FG, 2-3 3P, +10 in 17 mins.
More Raptors news
- Irving himself said that he loves playing against VanVleet, claiming that both smaller guards study the nuances in each other’s game. Irving called VanVleet a “winner” and a “champion,” further proving the mutual respect the two parties have for one another.
- Remember when Kings head coach Mike Brown lost his mind and was ejected in the third quarter of Toronto’s loss to Sacramento on Wednesday night? Well, he just lost a nice chunk of change, getting fined $25,000 for his actions. We’re pretty sure he’ll be fine losing that money and getting the win.
Kyrie on VanVleet: “I love going against Fred. I watch him a lot, he watches me a lot. Throughout the game talking back and forth a little bit. He hits a 3 in transition right in my face and he’s like ‘let’s go’. I have so much respect for Fred. He’s a winner. He’s a champion.”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) December 17, 2022
NBA news
- Former Stanford PG Tyrell Terry, who was picked No. 31 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks, announced his retirement from basketball at 22 years old, citing anxiety and diminished passion. We hope that Terry ends up in a better mental space as soon as possible and leads a fulfilling post-NBA life.
- NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would be “hugely disappointed” if the league doesn’t hire its first female head coach in the next five seasons. Becky Hammon interviewed for a vacancy in Portland, but didn’t get the job. Will New Orleans Pelicans assistant Teresa Witherspoon break that barrier?
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