Raps dig deep into bench to gut one out in Indy

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It wasn’t the prettiest recreation of basketball, however regardless of the scheduling denied the paying prospects the Raptors tried to present again in grit and dedication.

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The guests had loads of each in overcoming a poor taking pictures night time and people heavy legs to drag out a 97-94 win over the Indiana Pacers.

It was the second hang-on-for-dear-life win by the Raptors however a win nonetheless because the Raptors moved over .500 for the primary time this season with a 4-3 document.

The Raptors have been led by Scottie Barnes 21 factors and 12 rebounds together with two clutch free throws within the last minute to present the Raps a little bit respiration room. The prized rookie although additionally completed the sport in some ache. His proper hand or thumb appeared to have taken a knock within the dying seconds and Barnes was visibly wincing as the sport completed.

Each groups have been on a back-to-back and the consequences have been apparent.

The place the Pacers benefitted from the return to the courtroom of Caris LeVert who had been out with a again harm and had not performed and subsequently introduced contemporary legs, the Raptors needed to look to their bench for that enhance.

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They discovered it within the first half in Svi Mykhailiuk. The younger, however properly travelled 24-year-old has extra to his video games than many most likely realized and he put a little bit little bit of all of it on show in that second quarter ending the primary half with a Raptors-high 11 factors.

Mykhailiuk went behind his again in site visitors, he switched arms in mid-air on the drive ending together with his off-hand. He was must-see leisure, significantly in that second quarter when the Raptors wanted him most.

With out his contributions and wizardry the Raptors don’t get to the second half down only a single level.

  However the place LeVert was on a minutes restriction and both used all these minutes up within the first half or presumably had that unhealthy again tighten up on him, Mykhailiuk had no such limitations.

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LeVert didn’t return to the courtroom within the second half whereas Mykhailiuk continued to contribute.

He would end with 16 factors, two assists and 4 rebounds in his greatest recreation in a Raptors uniform however properly off his profession excessive of 25 factors he set final season in a Pistons uniform.

OUT OF THE DOG HOUSE

Chris Boucher obtained known as out by his coach moderately publicly a number of nights in the past for not residing as much as the participant that he could be. Two video games later, Boucher seems to have obtained the message and made the required corrections.

“I believed he had some nice velocity, he simply hustled again into some performs defensively, clearly he hit his shot,” Nurse mentioned earlier than the Raptors took the ground final night time in Indianapolis. “I believed he was getting nearer to wanting just like the Chris that we’re used to seeing, which is nice. I believe he’s simply gonna hold enhancing from there. I actually thought he had a great recreation final night time.”

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Boucher is No. 4 on this staff when it comes to expertise inside the system behind simply Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby. Nurse noticed him take a giant soar a 12 months in the past in Tampa and must see him proceed to make these strides.

“Chris is a vital participant to us,” Nurse mentioned. “He’s one in all these guys that’s been on the market proving he is usually a difference-maker and an x-factor sort of man and he’s been proving it for some time now. “We’ve been kinda simply lacking that,” Nurse mentioned. “So it’s good to get him again in additional of his groove and he’s type of a giant play maker. He blocks photographs, he blocks three-point makes an attempt, he’ll hit a 3 and possibly string a pair up in a row, he’ll get a tip dunk. He type of makes loud performs, and typically these may give us a spark and (get) some momentum began.”

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SECOND UNIT DEVELOPMENT

The simple reply to how a lot Nurse and the Raptors will have the ability to rely on their second unit received’t come till Siakam returns.

Till then we received’t actually know who’s in that second unit.

Does Gary Trent Jr. come out of the beginning 5 to hitch the bench group? Perhaps it’s Treasured Achiuwa?

For 2 video games although Nurse has favored what he has seen from his bench. However the tinkering course of is ongoing. Is Goran Dragic actually going to waste away on the top of the bench till this staff strikes him or buys him out? That’s hardly an environment friendly use of an asset.

In any occasion Nurse is aware of that whereas he’s discovered some first rate chemistry within the Canadian trio of Dalano Banton, Boucher and Khem Birch that he has been throwing on the market on the finish of the primary quarter and to begin the second, he’s removed from accomplished experimenting.

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Along with Dragic, Nurse has Malachi Flynn so as to add to that group ought to he select in addition to a Sam Dekker and even   Justin Champagnie who seemed so good within the pre-season.

“It’s been a little bit higher the final two video games however I wouldn’t go to financial institution on a two recreation pattern proper now,” Nurse mentioned. “ However hopefully, hopefully, it’s one thing we are able to construct on …. It looks like there’s most likely some extra experimenting and tinkering that may occur and relying on who we play and conditions that’ll change that stuff. So we’ve tinkered quite a bit right here within the early season and I’d think about that isn’t accomplished fairly but.”

mganter@postmedia.com