TORONTO– It was Chris Boucher’s night at Scotiabank Arena on Monday, because the Toronto Raptors ejected a 104-101 achieve Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.
In the 4th quarter alone, Boucher arrange 17 elements behind some clutch three-point capturing and horrible bangs, to accompany 5 rebounds, a block and a significant electrical outlet go to Ochai Agbaji to supply the Raptors a three-point lead with 39 secs left. The effectivity is far more glorious considering the Montreal- indigenous had really simply racked up a solitary issue heading proper into the final framework, as his power and grit repaid.
“He was great, huge for us tonight. … He won us the game,” claimed Scottie Barnes, that had a team-high 23 elements, to accompany 8 boards and 6 aids.
I requested Steph relating to Chris Boucher, that started his job with the Warriors org: “He was kinda quiet back in the day. Knew he could shoot. Knew he loved to play. Knew he was burning for an opportunity. He’s obviously gotten extremely better…I just hate the way he played tonight” pic.twitter.com/ca5HBfTd2o
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 14, 2025
Boucher credit score histories his functionality to stay fixed this yr, as he’s acquiring a much better understanding of the place he requires to be on the court docket with a purpose to work.
Raptors head practice Darko Rajakovi ć calls him a “true professional.”
“It feels really amazing,” claimed Boucher, that’s presently racked up in double-figures in 4 straight video video games whereas coming off the bench.
“You know, when I get the ball, it feels like I’m at the right place. It’s the right shot. But it’s also making the reads, I think I’m doing a lot better.”
For the Raptors, the win breaks a five-game dropping contact. That most recently consists of a set of competitions versus the Cavaliers and Pistons, the place they noticed the online game escape from them within the 2nd fifty p.c.
In fact, all all through this era, the Raptors haven’t seen themselves seem profitable in quite a few shut video video games, making Monday’s finish end result additionally sweeter.
“When you lose a lot of games, it can affect morale,” claimedBoucher “It helps to know that we can win against a former MVP.”
The Raptors had the power to have Curry, particularly within the 4th quarter, the place he simply racked up 5 elements on 3 photographs, as he do with a game-high 26.
“I can’t wait for him to retire. I’m gonna get drunk that night. I’m going to celebrate,” claimed Rajakovi ć, whereas stating that “it’s a privilege for all of us to live in an era” during which Curry performs the online game of basketball.
Rajakovic credit score histories the protecting work of Davion Mitchell all through the online game and moreover Agbaji, that offered just a little bit much more dimension versus Curry down the stretch, as they restricted the Warriors to 23 4th quarter elements.
Agbaji might need moreover had the emphasize of the night along with his put-back bang within the third.
Another standout was Jakob Poeltl, that collectively along with his excellent help across the paint, had a twin twin with 13 elements and 13 rebounds, and a game-high +14 plus/minus.
“I cannot praise enough how much small stuff Jak does for us,” claimed Rajakovi ć. “[The Warriors] scored 26 points in the paint, and a big part of that is Jakob’s defence.”
On the offending finish, Barnes gained Rajakovi ć’s appreciation, as he stays to radiate as a provider. Before the 4th quarter, it was Barnes that equaled the Warriors, as each teams traded 13 lead modifications.
“We’ve been really developing something with Scottie, with his post-ups and then closer to the rim. He’s getting good looks there, but also he’s playmaking from those positions really well,” claimed Rajakovi ć.
“Now it’s about timing and how to get better spacing, how to provide him enough space for other guys to be able to play off of him.”
The win presses the Raptors to a 9-31 doc, ample for thirteenth in theEastern Conference On a night the place the group was curtained in Curry jackets, and with Drake resting court docket aspect, it’s actually one to remember, because the Raptors presently put together your self to deal with the ruling champ Boston Celtics on Wednesday night at Scotiabank.
