(Toronto) The losses are piling up for the Toronto Raptors who seem strapped for resources due to the numerous injuries that plague several key elements of the roster.
On Sunday, Marcus Smart scored 21 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a 109-97 victory over the Raptors, who started a seven-game home streak. With this loss, the Raptors (9-12) have lost nine of their last 12 games.
Fred VanVleet had 27 points in the loss, while rookie Scottie Barnes added 21, also collecting seven rebounds. Pascal Siakam finished the game with 18 points and seven rebounds; Svi Mykhailiuk scored 12 points; and Precious Achiuwa was the most active on the rebound with nine balls recovered.
After the game, head coach Nick Nurse was obviously disappointed with the result, but didn’t blame his players’ level of effort.
“I think the guys worked hard,” he said. Several of those we haven’t seen often like Yuta [Watanabe], Isaac [Bonga] and obviously Justin [Champagnie], I think they did a good job. They put all their effort into it, but there are just some things that you just couldn’t get over. ”
Barnes’ performance was, once again, one of the main bright spots in the game. The progress of his away shot was showcased when he put in three three-pointers in just over three minutes in the third quarter.
“He was often told to throw. Nick [Nurse] tells him to throw. I tell him to throw, ”commented VanVleet.
The Raptors coaching staff has made it a priority to help Barnes develop better away shooting since the organization selected him in the 4e rank overall in the NBA Draft last summer. In the opinion of the principal concerned, who made four of his nine attempts on Sunday, it is arguably the most number of shots he made in a game since high school.
“I have already managed seven three-pointers in one game [à l’école secondaire] He shared.
“If I’m free and have the chance to throw, why not do it?” He continued. There is nothing too impressive, it’s just that if I’m open, I have to throw. Everyone encourages me to do this. We all trust each other that we can all throw, so if I get the chance, I have to throw. ”
Among the Celtics (11-10), Al Horford contributed to the victory with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Among those absent in the Toronto camp, we note OG Anunoby, injured in the hip, Gary Trent Jr., injured in a calf, and Khem Birch, injured in a knee.
Late 84-78 in the fourth quarter, the Raptors saw Mykhailiuk chained five points to narrow the lead to just one point, but Smart responded with two three-pointers to trigger a 14-2 Celtics push that didn’t no longer looked behind.
Before the game started, the Raptors announced that veteran Goran Dragic had left the team for personal reasons. Dragic has had little use this season, as the organization prefers to give playing time to young guards like Trent Jr. and Dalano Banton.