The Toronto Raptors have begun the 2023-24 season with a win, a 97-94 home win over the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves.
Thanks to a strong fourth quarter and over 40 percent shooting from the three-point line, Toronto helped first year head coach Darko Rajakovic earn his first game ball, taking home career victory No. 1 as an NBA bench boss.
“I thought that our guys did a really good job with the gameplan, did a really good job on Anthony Edwards especially,” Rajakovic said post-game. “I thought they fought for every single possession.”
Yes, Toronto may have held Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns to 26 points and 19 points, respectively, but its overall game will need some cleaning up going forward.
“I thought we still needed to play faster,” Rajakovic added. “What I mean by that is there were moments that we were coming past half-court, and then we did not get into offence early enough and quickly enough. That’s something that we are still going to work on. It’s one of those things like, we cannot just be watching each other. We’ve gotta be able to cut and drive and collapse defence and find open people. Some moments we were really good and moments we did not do a great job today with it.”
Toronto limed the Timberwolves to just 25 percent shooting from three and 34 percent shooting overall while outscoring the visitors 34-12 in points off transition.
The Raptors pulled ahead early and held a slight 53-51 lead at the half. Minnesota flipped the script with a strong third quarter, but it was Toronto that shot at a 50 percent rate in the fourth quarter, turning a one-point deficit into a three-point win.
The Raptors spoke about sharing the ball and delivered on that front, as 27 of the 36 made field goals came with assists. While three different players had at least five assists on the night.
Pascal Siakam dropped two big three-pointers in the fourth, while Scottie Barnes tied a career-high with five blocks. Six different Raptors hit at least one three-pointer in the game, helping contribute to the team’s high-percentage shooting. Leading the charge was newcomer Dennis Schroder, who hit four three-pointers himself – something he did on four occasions last season.
Schroder became the first player to put up 20+ points in his Raptors debut since Kawhi Leonard in 2018. We all know how that worked out for Toronto. Schroder finished the night with 22 points and seven assists, while Jakob Poeltl earned 11 rebounds.
“It might not be an easy start to the season because we have a couple of new pieces and a brand-new coaching staff and brand-new system,” Poeltl said. “So, if we manage to show the potential that we got and start building something that can have a lot of success in the coming years, I think that can have a successful season.”
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OG Anunoby put up 20 points and six rebounds, while serving as a key cog in the defensive structure that helped slow the attack of Edwards and Towns on the night. Barnes had 17 points, while Siakam finished with 15, as Toronto spread the wealth.
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Chris Boucher did not make an appearance, while rookie Gradey Dick spent just two minutes on the floor.
The win over the visiting Timberwolves helped extend Toronto’s home winning streak against Minnesota, which has not won in Ontario since January of 2004 – a tame in which Gary Trent Sr. suited up for the Wolves. Minnesota did beat the Raptors on the road in 2021, but that game occurred in Tampa Bay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After having won all four preseason games, taking the ‘W’ on opening night at home certainly goes a long way for Rajakovic and the Raptors, who will now turn their attention to the 0-1 Chicago Bulls, having lost the play-in tournament last spring to DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls, Friday’s tilt in the Windy City should stir about some added emotions. Toronto has three games in four nights to open the season, as former head coach Nick Nurse and the Philadelphia 76ers
It was also announced prior to the game that the Raptors had exercised their fourth-year team option on the rookie deal of forward Scottie Barnes. The 6-foot-8, 240-pound guard is now locked in through the 2024-25 season. Barnes, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, earned the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award two years back and suited up in 77 games last season.