MONTREAL – On an evening Toronto Raptors stars Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley didn’t swimsuit up, hometown favorite Chris Boucher took the highlight in Montreal.
Boucher produced 13 factors and 6 rebounds off the bench because the Raptors trounced the Washington Wizards 125-98 of their pre-season opener on the Bell Centre on Sunday.
The longest-serving Raptor went 5-for-9 from the ground in 17 minutes in entrance of “too many” family and friends within the sellout crowd of 21,900 after the staff carried out coaching camp on the Université du Québec à Montréal all week.
“The followers help us, they embrace us once we’re on the town, and you may really feel the love,” Boucher stated of his second NBA pre-season sport within the metropolis. “It’s laborious for me to not give it again once they help me all the best way. So I’m glad that we had the win. I’m glad that we performed nicely and to our requirements and that we had been in a position to give them present.”
RJ Barrett led all scorers with 17 factors on 7-of-10 capturing in 14 minutes — all within the first half — earlier than exiting the sport with a bruised proper shoulder after working right into a display screen by Wizards large man Jonas Valanciunas.
Head coach Darko Rajaković stated Barrett would endure additional analysis on Monday.
Gradey Dick, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Shead, Jahmi’us Ramsey and Jamison Battle added 10 factors every for the Raptors. Shead and Davion Mitchell mixed for 9 assists and one turnover with place to begin guard Quickley absent.
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Jordan Poole led Washington with 16 factors and 6 assists. Swiss-Canadian Wizards ahead Kyshawn George, whose father Deon is from Montreal, scored eight factors.
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The twenty fourth total choose on this 12 months’s draft obtained his first style of NBA motion in entrance of a pack of household within the stands — together with his grandparents.
“Simply as wonderful as I imagined it, it was only a blessing to have the ability to spend my first sport in entrance of my household,” he stated. “It’s their first time seeing me play in actual life, too. So it’s only a blessing total, and seeing them after on the court docket is simply wonderful.”
The rowdy spectators included newlyweds Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey of the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire, four-time Canadian Olympian Natalie Achonwa and former Raptors nice Vince Carter.
Carter, who will grow to be the primary participant in Raptors franchise historical past to have his quantity retired on Nov. 2, obtained the loudest ovation of the night time.
“The world over right here could be very large. Any person advised me that it’s 21,000 seats. They’re very steep, so you may actually really feel the gang being everywhere in the staff,” Rajaković stated. “Being right here in Montreal for a few days was nice.”
Barnes missed the beginning of camp for private causes and rejoined the staff Saturday, whereas place to begin guard Quickley is nursing a sprained thumb.
Boucher — who grew up within the Montréal Nord borough — additionally took the Bell Centre ground to a hero’s welcome when the Raptors performed an exhibition sport towards the Brooklyn Nets in October 2018.
The Raptors final performed a pre-season sport in Montreal towards the Boston Celtics in 2022, however Boucher was out with a hamstring damage.
Boucher and George addressed the gang from centre court docket to tip issues off earlier than the Raptors went on a roll.
Led by Barrett and Dick, the Raptors opened on a 13-2 run lower than 4 minutes into the sport earlier than Boucher and George checked in six minutes into the primary quarter to extra ovations.
Boucher’s dunk with 1:49 left helped the Raptors leap out to a 34-16 lead after the primary quarter.
“We didn’t love our begin,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe stated. “Second quarter was a lot better, a lot better defensive mindset. The sport obtained a bit of bit up and down within the third for each groups, however we had been extra aggressive. However the begin actually damage us. Quite a bit to be taught from this sport.”
Within the second quarter, Boucher hit a 3 whereas Barrett hit two layups and a shot from past the arc as Toronto stored working up the rating. The Raptors led 56-38 at halftime.
Boucher scored eight factors within the third quarter, however the Wizards lower the Raptors result in 15 with a number of baskets from Alexandre Sarr and George.
Each groups went deep down their benches within the fourth quarter. Toronto’s Battle scored eight factors in a rush with two threes and a layup because the Raptors cruised to the resounding win.
UP NEXT
The Raptors go to the Wizards in a rematch on Friday earlier than a home-and-home collection with the Boston Celtics on Oct. 13 and Oct. 15. They’ll wrap up the pre-season towards the Nets in Brooklyn on Oct. 18.
Toronto suggestions off its thirtieth anniversary season at house towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on Oct. 23.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 6, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
