Raptors’ reserves deliver in gritty win over Sixers
The script is writing itself for the Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors won for the sixth time in seven tries since NBA seeding games began in a Florida bubble, and they did so while resting for some key starters for the second game in a row.
Meanwhile, the guys on the very end of the bench pulled this win out.
A 125-121 win over the Philadelphia 76ers had just about everything the Raptors might have written up in advance.
Kyle Lowry and Fred Vanvleet returned from a night off and got right back into the flow of the game. Lowry contributed 19 points and three assists, while Vanvleet was good for 10 points and six assists in just 25 minutes for both. Both were pivotal in keeping the Raptors in this game that the 76ers kept threatening to put out of reach early.
Then it was Chris Boucher’s turn for the second night in a row as the Raptors’ third centre showed again that, if needed, he can produce.
A game after a career-high scoring night, Boucher put up another 19 to go along with nine rebounds and four blocks.
But the real heroics, as they often do in these games, came in the dying minutes with coach Adrian Griffin, taking over the head coaching duties for the night while Nick Nurse watched from the seats, putting the result in the hands of Dewan Hernandez, Malcolm Miller, Stanley Johnson, Matt Thomas and Paul Watson.
Johnson scored the winning basket off a miss by Hernandez, while Thomas, of course, chipped in with a must-have trey late.
Watson had the drive of the night before laying one in through traffic, while Miller provided the defence the team needed down the stretch.
It helped overturn what at one point was a 16-point 76ers lead.
With the starters for both teams in the unfamiliar role of cheerleaders, they had as much fun cheering on the guys who normally handle that role when they’re playing.
“We’re always talking to those guys, telling them to be ready for the opportunity,” guard Norm Powell said. “You know, when they get a chance to go out there in those types of minutes, not to (waste) them. Go out there and play the game the right way, play aggressive, and go out there and show that you belong. I’ve been in that situation and I want them to succeed. Not only me but everybody on the team.”
It really was one of those perfect nights for everyone in Raptors’ colours.
ONE SEAT OVER
Nurse has gone to great lengths to promote his assistants as much as possible since he became a head coach.
So it wasn’t that big a surprise that Nurse would hand the reigns over to lead assistant Griffin for last night’s game.
Griffin appreciated the gesture. “Coach is an awesome human being,” Griffin said before the game.
“He understands that a coach like me needs some reps at being a head coach. He knows my ambitions and he wants to see me grow as an individual, on and off the court. Definitely just an awesome gesture by coach.
“He approached me with it and it just kind of shows what kind of character that coach Nurse has. You know, we have a firstclass organization for a reason . ... There’s a reason why we’ve had success over the years.”
Griffin said it’s all about the reps.
“Just like when athletes and basketball players are training in the summer, there’s nothing compared to game condition,” Griffin said.
“You know, you can work out all you want, but until you get in those games and you get up and down the court, there’s a difference. And I think it’s the same way (for coaches).
“It’s really equivalent to an assistant coach moving over to that chair. You do all the training that you can, and practice, but it’s good to get those game reps.
After the game, and the win, he was feeling pretty good.
“I have to thank coach Nurse,” he said. “He didn’t have to do this. Honestly for one night I felt like Cinderella. I had the glass slippers on and it was great. Tomorrow it’s back to reality, but it was an awesome feeling.”