Three-pointer helps lift Raps over Hornets
The Raptors had just ended the quarter on the wrong side of an 11-0 run and the bench mob was headed back out to make amends.
But first Kyle Lowry huddled the second unit and spoke what had to be some pretty motivating words.
Because the same unit that coughed up an early Raptors lead got it back soon after and the host Hornets never got another sniff of the lead in the Raptors 10th win in their past 11 games.
Lowry’s contributions weren’t limited to the verbal kind. He also had 11 points and eight assists in the 129-111 win.
The standout, particularly in that first half was Serge Ibaka who looked not just rejuvenated after a game to rest an achy left knee but like a guy who was playing on a brand new knee.
Ibaka had four dunks in the game, all of them of the emphatic kind and looked like 20-year-old rookie for the majority of the night.
His 24 points were a season high and just seven off his career high.
Rookie OG Anunoby went Ibaka one better establishing a career high with 20 points on the strength of a 6-for-7 night from behind the arc.
But this wasn’t about any individual effort leading the Raptors on this night.
There were big marks all the way up and down the roster including a Raptors high 28 points from DeRozan that went mostly overlooked.
The 16 three-pointers in the game tied the season high while the 34 assists set a new season mark surpassing the old mark by two.
It was the type of night that makes you question whether you have given this team enough credit to date.