TORONTO – With just a little more than three minutes left to play in the third quarter of Game 1 of the Toronto Raptors’ opening-round series with the Brooklyn Nets, Raptors rookie Terence Davis saw a goal he’s been thinking of since the season suspension back in March realized at long last.
“I was so excited for playoffs because I’ve been working so hard for the playoffs, and now the question is up in the air,” Davis said in late April, understandably not feeling too optimistic at the time at the prospect of the season’s restart.
However, restart the season did, paving the way to a moment that Davis won’t soon forget.
The Raptors led by as many as 33 points in the first half, but by the time Davis checked into Monday’s contest the Nets were in the midst of a huge-looking comeback, cutting Toronto’s lead down to nine.
And so, not satisfied with the performance he saw from Matt Thomas in the first half and looking for a spark, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse turned to the rookie he trusted to play every game this season to give his team what it was lacking to close out the hard-charging Nets.
“It was good, he showed some life,” Nurse said of Davis after the game. “I thought he was great, he had a great attitude, thought he showed some life and even at the end he showed some life. Good little stretch for him.”
Livestream the Raptors’ quest to defend their NBA title with select NBA playoff games on Sportsnet NOW.
Perhaps Nurse didn’t want the rook to get too ahead of himself, but he may be selling Davis’ impact on Monday’s affair a little short.
The 23-year-old poured in 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting in just a little more than 12 minutes of action, all coming in the second half.
A lot of what he managed to score did come with the game well in hand in the fourth quarter. But before that he drilled a key three-pointer with 50 seconds to go in the third period to extend Toronto’s lead to 13 points over the outstretched hand of Nets guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot — helping to ensure Toronto had enough cushion heading into the fourth to pump its lead back up and cruise to an easy Game 1 victory.
For Davis, being able to come into what was a bit of a dicey situation for the Raptors and immediately make a positive impact — in the first bout of NBA post-season action he had ever seen — all came down to preparation and the work he’s been putting in all season long.
“…I just wanted to stay ready when my name is called,” said Davis. “Tonight was a perfect example of that. So just staying ready, man. Coach put me in at a critical time and, for a rook, you always want to stay ready, man. You want to take advantage of the opportunity and that’s what I tried to do tonight.”
For the Raptors, seeing Davis back playing with confidence had to have been a relieving sight as well.
It’s no secret that Nurse is only looking to extend his rotation out two more spots outside of the team’s core seven to eight or nine men, and on Monday it looked like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson was firmly indentured as the No. 8 man — Nurse even said before the game that “he’s in the rotation” — but the No. 9 spot looked to be up for grabs.
As mentioned before, Nurse tried Thomas in that No. 9 role, but in the four-minute burst he was given in that spot he was unable to make any impact as he was hounded constantly and couldn’t get free for a good shot.
Thomas was, perhaps, tried out because during the seeding games Davis struggled, shooting just 30 per cent from the field and playing less-than-stellar defence. However, Nurse opted to try out the rookie from Ole Miss once again and was rewarded for it — not only for Monday’s Game 1 but maybe over the course of the series, in general, as the Raptors’ ninth man.
At the very least, Davis’ showing in Game 1 had to have been boost to the rookie’s confidence moving forward.
“I really want to take advantage of the playoffs. I really want the veteran guys to be able to trust someone like me in a game in the playoffs,” Davis said back in April. “I’m a rookie, so obviously I don’t know what’s to come in the playoffs — I’ve never been in the playoffs — but I want Fred [VanVleet], I want Kyle [Lowry], I want these guys to be able to trust me when I get in the game in the playoffs — if I get in the game during the playoffs.”
Davis got in and helped lift the Raptors to a rare Game 1 victory. So far, it looks like he’s doing exactly what he always setting out to do.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
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.
