A 111-106 win over the Charlotte Hornets on March 3rd marked the last victory to date for the Toronto Raptors. But the Raptors were unable to build off of this win and instead embarked on the second-longest losing streak in franchise history.
For fans of the once all-mighty franchise, it was a bit disappointing to see the Toronto Raptors suffer a significant fall from grace. However, it's important to consider the team was marred by injuries to their top stars for a large chunk of the losses.
Additionally, many pundits and fans quickly recognized that Toronto aimed to improve their chances in the 2024 lottery. This is because their pick is set to transfer to San Antonio if it falls outside of the 1-6 protection range. Nevertheless, it didn't stop the Raptors from ending this historic 15-game losing streak with an upset 117-111 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on April 5.
These 3 Raptors players were essential to Toronto's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Assisting Toronto in this statement victory were huge performances from three key players. With their stellar on-court play, the Toronto Raptors were able to perform at a competitive level that many have been longing to see again. With only five games left in the Raptors' regular season schedule, Toronto may have a chance at being a playoff contender again next season if they can put all the right puzzle pieces together.
3. Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley speaks with @SavHamilton11 after putting up a double-double in a Raptors win. pic.twitter.com/qp0vNN7VQu
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 6, 2024
Immanuel Quickley has been dealing with a rough loss in the family, as his uncle Shawn Hamilton recently passed away after a lengthy cancer battle. But as he put it in his post-game interview, he's been able to put "life and basketball into perspective".
Despite the adversity he's been facing in his personal life, Quickley still proved to be an impactful force on all ends of the floor, as he finished with a near triple-double of 25 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists, and a +14 plus/minus.
If you were to just look at his field goal percentage, 33 percent on 4-of-12 shooting, you might be left scratching your head at how Quickley was able to rack up all those points. But it was IQ's ability to find his way to the foul line, as he shot 15 free throws and made 14 of them for a 93% efficiency.
Quickley was able to put everything together well, as he showed great playmaking prowess, hustle, and a willingness to draw contact to head to the foul line. With IQ set for a massive payday later this offseason, Toronto has a stellar point guard to lead the way for the foreseeable future.