If that's the energy Raptors Nation is coming out with for the regular season prelude, I can't wait to see how they show up in full force when the actual season kicks off.
It was a packed house inside Scotiabank Arena on October 10 as the Toronto Raptors did battle with division foe, the Boston Celtics, for their first game back at home since April 9, albeit for preseason action. Although the Raptors would be without their full cast of starters, the hometown crowd would be treated to the return of Chris Boucher, marking the veteran's first time back in Toronto wearing his new threads. Boucher would receive a hero's welcome, and justifably so, as the 32-year-old left behind a legacy as the franchise's most decorated bench player's of all time.
Toronto let Boucher walk this past free agency, after making it increasingly clear they had moved on from the fan-favorite as they prioritized addressing their roster with alternative options. And this Raptors-Celtics matchup on October 10 was darn near close to being the ultimate Chris Boucher revenge game, until it was shockingly spoiled by a tapped-in Toronto squad late in the game, and thanks to the tremendous poise shown by one, Jonathan Mogbo (who I'll get to in a minute).
Raptors vs. Celtics preseason battle was must-see TV
Boucher picked up for Boston right where he left off in Toronto, getting the starting nod as the Celtics, where he posted these impressive stats in just over 23 minutes of action: 19 points on 70% field goal shooting, nine rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block, and a plus/minus of +22. Boucher led his team in scoring, alongside fellow Oregon brother Payton Pritchard, and it really did seem like Boston was cruising to an inevitable victory, especially as they held a 27-point lead at one point.
But the alternates in Toronto's arsenal took off and shifted the momentum in their favor (going on an absurd 18-2 run), until the game came down to the wire tied at 105 a piece, and that's where we get to the man of the hour: Jonathan Mogbo. With a raucous crowd on their feet and tensions high, Jared Rhoden would feed the ball to Mogbo on the inside, who nearly had an open dunk, but the Raptors sophomore would show immense technique and maneuver around his defender with a shifty spin move to secure the game-winner.
It was great to see the Boucher Barrage back on full display, despite being for the rival team, and this was nearly set-up to be the perfect stick-it moment to Raptors management for letting him walk. But wouldn't you know it, it'd be Jonathan Mogbo who stole the limelight in the end, a Raptors player who I've questioned where he fits in this current roster makeup.
Just goes to show that you can never count out the entertainment levels of preseason action ... it made for some truly thrilling basketball.