10 Things: Raptors record 37 assists in revenge win over Hawks

Listed here are 10 takeaways from the Toronto Raptors‘ 123-121 win over the Atlanta Hawks.

1. The Raptors aren’t any strangers to heartbreak in Atlanta. Final 12 months, it was a missed Scottie Barnes layup after which shedding on an alley-oop in additional time. Final month, the Raptors led with seven seconds left, however did not field out Saddiq Bey on a putback dunk to lose but once more on the buzzer. It was shut as soon as once more down the stretch, however the Raptors got here up with the requisite performs to complete sturdy. A clutch three from Gary Trent Jr. off a exact kickout from Scottie Barnes nudged the result in 5 late, and Trent Jr. preserved the benefit by pressuring a hand-off on the sideline to power Atlanta to step out of bounds in a three-point sport with the clock turned off. Though it isn’t their essential aim, the Raptors are 3.5 video games again of the play-in having defeated the 2 groups immediately forward of them prior to now 24 hours.

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2. There was plenty of roster instability in his rookie 12 months, however head coach Darko Rajakovic has constantly established ball motion as his core identification. The Raptors don’t have 1-on-1 creators just like the Hawks, but they nonetheless managed to shoot extra effectively throughout the board by sharing the ball. Toronto completed with eight gamers in double-figures — together with all 4 gamers off the bench — and the staff completed with 37 assists. The Raptors leveraged their playmaking centres to create area for cutters to flash to the basket, and that inside-out strategy additionally led to open kickouts for threes. The Raptors recorded greater than 32 assists as soon as final season — this sport is already the eleventh time the Raptors have overwhelmed that mark this 12 months.

3. The second unit as a complete was glorious with Scottie Barnes rounding out the group, however the standout performer was Gradey Dick. The rookie capturing guard continues to construct in confidence as he completed with 18 factors on 8-for-13 capturing in 22 minutes. He nailed his typical assortment of catch-and-shoot threes, however he additionally added a wide range of different finishes. He hit a curling midrange jumper, a crossover right into a pull-up with a foot on the road, a transition dunk and a handful of chopping baskets. Dick’s capacity to be a continuing menace along with his motion pairs completely with the Raptors’ sturdy passing bigs who can display screen and feed him.

gradey dick continues to enhance. some actually nice cuts made tonight on high of the capturing from 3 and midrange. pic.twitter.com/XF5hhBg8TR

— William Lou (@william_lou) February 24, 2024

4. Since getting back from his conditioning stint within the G-League, Dick has shot over 50 per cent from three. The specter of his capturing has enabled him to open up the remainder of his sport, together with his capacity to create benefits. The play under was the Raptors’ finest passing sequence of the night time, and it was all created by Dick’s motion and studying of the sport which ultimately led to a triple for Ochai Agbaji.

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5. Barnes was glorious with each the starters and the second unit and completed with a double-double of 20 factors and 10 assists. Barnes largely seemed to soak up double groups to arrange teammates for layups and threes, however he additionally created his personal shot within the uncommon events the place the Hawks defence performed him in isolation. Barnes bullied on a couple of drives and swished two pull-up midrange jumpers over Atlanta’s two finest wing defenders, Jalen Johnson and DeAndre Hunter. That ought to be the subsequent instrument for Barnes so as to add to his sport, as he nonetheless does lack a constant go-to transfer within the halfcourt. Along with his energy and measurement, Barnes ought to have the ability to get to a midrange pull-up in opposition to most defenders, however it is going to require him to tighten his deal with and enhance his capturing contact.

6. Trent Jr. cooled off from his scoring efficiency on Thursday, however made up for it along with his tenacity on defence. He had the toughest project of the night time in protecting Trae Younger, who was caught on eight factors till he made a leaning prayer for a 3 within the remaining seconds of the sport. A lot of that was due to Trent Jr. who caught with the slippery guard who’s infamous for his cynical foul-baiting that drove the Raptors mad of their final matchup. As all the time, the Raptors confirmed loads of assist with a second defender to power Younger into giving up the ball, however Trent Jr. did the majority of the heavy lifting for the beginning lineup. He was rewarded for his efforts with a dagger three with a minute left within the fourth.

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7. Agbaji was the opposite standout defender on the night time, and he had loads of work. Atlanta options three lethal scoring guards in Younger, Dejounte Murray, and Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Agbaji noticed time on all three. Agbaji combines good energy and quickness to chop off drives whereas nonetheless with the ability to get better to contest on pull-ups. His lone block on the night time got here on a roll to the rim by Johnson, who thought he had created area with a spin transfer, besides Agbaji moved his toes earlier than assembly him up high for a leaping block to disclaim the larger participant. Offensively, he’s largely a standstill shooter, so a 4-for-5 night time from deep is about pretty much as good because it will get.

8. Rajakovic now has two decisions for who he needs to shut with at centre. Each Kelly Olynyk and Jakob Poeltl have been productive of their minutes, and it’s uncommon to see two centres combining for a dozen assists except their title is Jokic. Atlanta went to their small-ball look with Johnson at centre round 4 guards, so the Raptors closed smaller with Olynyk, who promptly delivered two miraculous baskets. The primary was a turnaround publish jumper which happily bounced off the glass, and the second was a stretching finger roll the place Olynyk correctly drove the diminutive Younger to the rim.

9. This was a missed alternative for Jordan Nwora, who was promoted from third string to beginning instead of RJ Barrett who sat out the second night time of the back-to-back on account of his ailing knee. Nwora’s finest sport as a Raptor was in opposition to Atlanta when he scored 24 factors, however the sequel was disappointing. Nwora compelled his offence as a substitute of ready his flip, and was unceremoniously sat down twice by crossovers from Saddiq Bey. With so many wings to select from, Rajakovic gained’t be calling Nwora’s title that usually when his full roster is offered, regardless that there’s nonetheless some expertise to be unlocked within the 25-year-old.

10. Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors in scoring as soon as once more. He was shot out of a cannon to start the match, scoring thrice in transition to power Atlanta into calling an early timeout. Quickley aggressively seemed for his shot and instantly established himself as a menace. From there, he drew double groups and traps, of which he discovered the curler to create 4-on-3 benefits for his teammates. It was additionally encouraging to see Quickley preserve his dribble within the paint, which created layups for himself and assists to his teammates.