TORONTO – If the Toronto Raptors are going to make the NBA’s play-in event with out all-star Scottie Barnes, they’re going to must belief themselves and one another.
Ochai Agbaji began in Barnes’s place and scored 13 factors with a career-high 9 rebounds as Toronto held off the Charlotte Hornets 111-106 on Sunday. The victory comes two days after Barnes broke his hand in a 120-105 loss to the Golden State Warriors.
“I feel one of the best factor to do is just not put stress on your self,” stated Agbaji on beginning in Barnes’ absence. “Simpler stated than finished, clearly, however to simply belief in (head coach Darko Rajakovic).
“Belief in him that, no matter you do on the market, he absolutely helps you. You’re constructing his belief however simply going on the market and enjoying arduous and in case you’re doing that and also you make errors going 100 miles an hour, he needs to be good with that.”
Agbaji has averaged 5.5 factors, 1.5 rebounds and 0.9 assists over 13.9 minutes per sport since he was traded alongside centre Kelly Olnyk of Kamloops, B.C., to Toronto from the Utah Jazz on Feb. 8. He performed 32:39 in his first begin as a Raptor.
“By no means taking any alternative that I get, whether or not it’s 5 minutes, half-hour, no matter it’s, simply being in that place, I feel is the place I wish to be and taking advantage of it’s what I’m making an attempt to do,” stated Agbaji.
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Immanuel Quickley had a double-double with 22 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds as Toronto (23-38) ended a two-game skid to achieve half a sport on the tenth place Atlanta Hawks for the East’s last play-in spot.
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The idle Hawks are 3 1/2 video games forward of the Raptors.
“The mindset simply needs to be to come back in daily and provides all the pieces you’ve gotten with nice effort and nice consideration to element,” stated Quickley. “Everyone is speaking about the results of the plan, however I feel in case you put all the pieces you’ve gotten into daily, I feel that’s an important half about it.
“We now have to exit and compete as nicely, however simply going out and whether or not it’s a observe, a game-film session, simply being current in that second and making an attempt to get higher in that second is a giant a part of successful.”
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 23 factors and 9 rebounds, whereas Gary Trent Jr. added 17 factors for Toronto.
The undermanned Raptors had been dealt one other blow when beginning centre Jakob Poeltl left the sport on the finish of the primary half with a dislocated left pinky finger. Guard Bruce Brown additionally missed the sport due to right-knee irritation.
Rajakovic advised Quickley and Barrett earlier than the sport that they didn’t have to take extra photographs with Barnes out.
“You guys are each nice gamers,” he stated. “You’re gonna get your photographs within the sport, simply allowed to come back naturally and ensure that now we have good ball motion.”
Miles Bridges got here alive within the third quarter to complete with 20 factors as Charlotte (15-46) misplaced its fourth straight. Brandon Miller and Grant Williams every had a double-double, with Miller scoring 26 and flattening 10 boards and Williams having 18 factors with 13 rebounds.
Though Poeltl’s departure simply earlier than halftime allowed Bridges to drive to the basket — he scored 16 of his factors within the third quarter alone — the Raptors weren’t slowed down. Trent had 11 factors and Barrett added seven factors within the quarter as Toronto constructed an 82-75 lead.
Williams scored eight consecutive factors within the last 4 minutes of the sport to tug the Hornets to inside two factors. Davis Bertans then drilled a three-pointer to make it 103-102 Charlotte.
Quickley sank two free throws with 57 seconds left to re-take the lead.
With the 19,512 followers at Scotiabank Area chanting “DE-FENCE!” Barrett acquired a defensive rebound and Quickley was fouled after dribbling the ball over half-court. Quickley made each of the following free throws to make it 106-103 for Toronto with 24.6 to go.
On the following Charlotte possession, Bertans clanked a three-point try off the rim and Quickley acquired the rebound, instantly drawing a foul. Once more, he made each free throws.
Williams was fouled because the Hornets had been making an attempt to inbound and made his one free throw. Miller drove to the online for an uncontested layup when Charlotte lastly acquired to inbound and Trent was fouled on Toronto’s possession. He made certainly one of his two free throws after which stole the ball for a straightforward layup for the sport’s last rating.
UP NEXT — The Raptors host the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
Charlotte welcomes the Orlando Magic on Tuesday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 3, 2024.
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