Kyle Lowry scored 30 points and dished out seven assists as the Toronto Raptors got vengeance after a sleepy-looking Christmas Day performance against this same Boston Celtics team, beating them 113-97 Saturday evening at TD Garden.
The Raptors hadn’t won in Boston since Dec. 9, 2016, when the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and Cory Joseph were still on the team. Additionally, this improves the Raptors to 6-10 against teams with records .500 or above and 2-6 against the top-six teams in the Eastern Conference.
Those two records still don’t look great, but Saturday’s victory was a major step in the right direction to correct things there, and should absolutely be seen as one of Toronto’s signature wins this season.
Here are a few takeaways from a thrilling, statement Raptors win in Boston:
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Nurse makes the adjustment
The Raptors were eaten alive on the glass on Christmas Day, as Boston out-rebounding Toronto 45-34.
A major reason for this disparity was Celtics backup centre Enes Kanter, who finished with 11 rebounds and chipped in 12 points as he appeared to bully his Raptors counterpart, Chris Boucher. The Canadian was greatly overmatched by the superior strength and offensive guile in the post that Kanter possesses.
Given how banged up the Raptors are at the moment, the thought coming into Saturday’s game was that there weren’t many adjustments to be made, especially at the centre position. However, Raptors coach Nick Nurse found a tweak that basically won the game for Toronto.
As usual, since Marc Gasol was forced out of the lineup, Serge Ibaka started Saturday, but with 8:16 left to go in the first quarter, Ibaka was subbed out earlier than he normally would’ve to get Boucher into the game. This was a deliberate call by Nurse because about four minutes later, Kanter checked in and Nurse then was able to sub Ibaka in at the same time as him.
This proved to be a trend throughout the night as Nurse continually would match Kanter’s minutes with Ibaka’s, something that proved to be genius. Not only did the Raptors have a much better game on the glass overall Saturday – they crushed the Celtics 53-31 and Kanter only ended up grabbing six rebounds – it helped them greatly offensively as it meant Ibaka was matching up with Kanter.
Ibaka finished with 20 points and 10 rebounds Saturday, largely thanks to the steady diet of pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop he and partner Kyle Lowry were forcing Kanter – one of the NBA’s worst defenders in space – into, allowing Ibaka to feast and, therefore, limit Kanter’s impact on the game overall.
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Lowry continues to reign above everything
With 3:57 left to go in the first quarter, Nurse won a key challenge, overturning a call that would’ve earned Lowry his second foul on the evening, something he didn’t want to happen because the Raptors had jumped out to a fantastic start to the game, and Lowry was the catalyst for it.
Up to the point of that challenge, Lowry had nine points and three assists, an early indication that he, once again, might be on one that night. Nurse appeared to sense that and called a very early challenge to try to put money where his feelings were, so to speak.
The gamble paid off. Lowry ended up finishing the quarter with 11 points as the Raptors closed out the opening frame with a 36-25 lead and never looked back. Lowry exploded for 30 points, bringing his scoring average since Gasol, Pascal Siakam and Norman Powell went down with injuries to 26.4 per game.
Lowry has always risen in times of need for the Raptors. Saturday night – and this injury-plagued period in general – is no different.
McCaw better than you’ve likely ever seen him before
This is likely sounding like a broken record, but maybe – just maybe – Nurse is onto something with Patrick McCaw?
McCaw had, by far, his best game as a Raptor Saturday, finishing with a season-high 18 points – just one point off his career best – and a career-high eight assists.
Coming into Saturday, Nurse and the Raptors discussed how they wanted McCaw to be more aggressive looking for his shot and to get the ball in his hands a little more to initiate offence for others.
“It gets Kyle and Fred [VanVleet] into the shooting slots a little bit,” said Nurse Friday at practice of needing McCaw to have the ball in his hands a little more. “It’s a different rhythm and a different pace, usually.”
Added VanVleet: “Patrick’s very, very talented and I think sometimes he’s just a little too passive. Hopefully getting the ball in his hands, getting him more rhythm and getting him more reps, letting him feel the game out, he can get a feel for the game.”
McCaw listened to what was being said, and the Raptors were better because of it.
Canadian kids impress for Raptors
McCaw was the obvious feel-good storyline to take away from Saturday’s game, but the play of Canadians Boucher and, especially, Oshae Brissett was not to be overlooked.
The two combined for 10 points and 10 rebounds and in a game that saw two players foul out (Ibaka and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson). That meant Toronto’s frontcourt depth was severely tested and needed contributions from unlikely sources.
On Saturday, while we’ve come to expect relatively solid play from Boucher, that unsung hero was definitely Brissett.
Playing the most (and most significant) minutes of his young NBA career, the Toronto native was instrumental in the Raptors holding onto their lead with rock solid defence and tenaciousness on the glass when the Celtics were threatening.
This was only the seventh game Brissett managed to get into, but it’s clear he was ready, a testament to his own work ethic. You never know when your number is going to be called.
Overcoming a tough whistle
Lastly, let’s very quickly discuss the officiating Saturday night.
In short: It was uneven.
The Raptors had 32 personal fouls called against them to Boston’s 17, and saw the Celtics take 19 more free throws.
As mentioned before, Toronto had two players foul out, Hollis-Jefferson – who had four before halftime – and OG Anunoby, Ibaka had five and two more, Lowry and Brissett, picked up four.
Still, complaining about officials, as cathartic as it can be, is ultimately meaningless, especially in this case as the Raptors managed to rise above it all and come out looking every bit the defending champions they are.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
