Raptors pull a win out of their hat: A running diary of G.O.A.T. Night

The Toronto Raptors overcame a hot Orlando Magic start and thrash the visitors, 109-93, on G.O.A.T. Night at Scotiabank Arena

For the second time this season, the Toronto Raptors held a G.O.A.T. (Greatest of all Toronto) Night at Scotiabank Arena.

There is no scientific or analytical reason a team would perform because of the design on their jersey/court. However, the Raptors are undefeated when hosting a G.O.A.T. Night (ahem, 2-0) after defeating the visiting Orlando Magic, 109-93. Scottie Barnes neared a triple-double with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Bruce Brown (15 points) and Kelly Olynyk (12 points) continued their strong play of late, helping Toronto’s bench outscored Orlando’s 41-11.

The Magic were led by Paolo Banchero who produced 26 points and 12 rebounds. Anthony Black, thrust into the starting lineup with Jalen Suggs injured, had 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope chipped in with 20 points, with a good chunk coming in garbage time.

The last time I wrote a Game Recap, I dusted off the running diary to great reception. Let’s go with it again and try to transport you inside the game!

• The Raptors have the best court designs. Period. Whether it’s the NBA Cup or G.O.A.T. Night, Scotiabank Arena is a phototaker’s dream!
• Toronto’s inactive list: Immanuel Quickley (Hip strain), Ochai Agbaji (Right hand laceration), Jonathan Mogbo (Coach’s decision). Chris Boucher was not listed but Darko Rajakovic indicated pregame that he’d rest Boucher as he recovers from an illness.
• Spoiler alert: Boucher’s services were required
• Orlando’s inactive list: Cole Anthony (Illness), Goga Bitadze (Concussion protocol), Gary Harris (Hamstring), Jett Howard (Ankle), Suggs (Back), Franz Wagner (Return to competition conditioning), and Mo Wagner (ACL)
• The Magic boasts the #2 defense in the league and it immediately showed. On the first offensive possession, KCP generated a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup. On the second Raps possession, KCP deflection late in the shot clock led to a rushed shot by Gradey Dick (it missed). On the third possession, Dick attempted a tough pocket pass in a clogged lane, leading to a Tristan Da Silva steal and Banchero fastbreak layup.
• You get a bingo square if your card had Darko Rajakovic calling a timeout in the first two minutes
• Anthony Black’s hair makes me think he wants to kill Bart Simpson
• Toronto is working hard to penetrate Orlando’s defense. A Gradey drive-and-kick leads to a catch-and-shoot three for Barnes. Yes, that’s the exact opposite of what’s supposed to happen, but you take what you can get against this defense. Raps are on the board down 8-3.
• The Magic continue getting what they want. A second shooting foul for Barrett leads to an and-one basket for KCP. Magic up 16-3
• Did Orlando not get the memo that they’re one of the worst offenses in the league? Nowhere near the end of the first quarter, Orlando is shooting 12 of 15 from the floor and lead Toronto 32-11.
• Bruce Brown enters the game. Will his strong play of late (yay for the Raptors) and the impending trade deadline (yay for Raptors fans) be the ingredients for a comeback?
• Early answer is YES. Brown’s handsy defense forces a steal and leads to a transition layup for Boucher. (Darko said postgame that he was desperate for answers and was forced to play Boucher.)
• Brown almost single-handedly kept the Raptors in this game. He props up the bench unit as they outscore the Magic’s reserves 15-5 in the first quarter.
• Orlando up 37-24 after one. Magic shoot 56% from the field, including 5 made threes on their first 5 attempts.
• Barrett is scoreless in the second quarter as he picks up his third touch foul, after carelessly running into Wendell Carter Jr. as he caught an outlet pass
• If Brown kept Toronto afloat, Barnes helped mount the comeback in the second. Scottie picks Banchero’s pocket and has his second breakaway look-backward dunk. Lead down to 8.

• Mitchell gets a steal that leads to a Barnes corner three on the ensuing possession. Another missed Orlando three, followed by a Barrett three. Raps on a 26-7 run since falling behind 32-11 in the first. We have a game!
• Orlando is ice cold in the second quarter. Keeping them in the lead is Carter Jr., who currently has more offensive rebounds (5) than everyone else combined (3)
• After both teams scored at least 50% in the first quarter, neither team cracked 40% in the second quarter. Orlando was especially cold, missing 16 of their 20 field goal attempts. After draining their first 5 three-point attempts, the Magic finished the half missing 10 of their next 11 shots from long distance.
• Tonight’s G.O.A.T. Night Ambassador/Celebrant is Director X. A mix of his music is performed by the Raptors various dance groups (Lil Ballers, Dance Pak, and 6ix Trix), including songs from Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Keshia Chante, Karl Wolf, Deborah Cox, Justin Bieber, and Drake
• Darko must have reminded his team that Goga Bitadze was out because the Raptors start the second half by attacking the basket with purpose. Barnes and Barrett drives on each of the first 3 possessions leads to 6 points as Toronto draws as close as they have all game. Raptors down 52-51.
• With a chance to grab their first lead, the Raptors are held off after Barnes’ three is blocked by Banchero......who follows it up with a made three of his own. Ouch.
• The (Wendell) Carter effect. Poeltl continues to struggle with containing Wendell on the defensive end and draws his 4th foul early in the third quarter
• Raptors’ continued aggression finally pays off. Davion bullies his way to a layup to give Toronto its first lead of the game.
• Olynyk keeps the fans cheering on the next trip down the floor by blocking a Sideshow Black drive.
• Olynyk is taking over this game! He finds Gradey for back cut and dunk. Then Brown on back cut leading to a foul on Magic

• Raptors defense is swarming. Orlando scored 32 points in the first 8 minutes of the game. It took them over 26 minutes to get another 32 points.
• Another successful Olynyk pick-and-roll with Brown leads to a 3-point play for Bruce. Raps now up 82-70
• Frustration boiling over on the next play. Banchero is called for an offensive foul on the next play. He complains to the ref and is called for a tech.
• Raps keep pouring it on. Olynyk with THREE blocks over two minutes of game time (final minute of the third and first minute of the fourth)
• This is not a typo. Poeltl is -26 while Olynyk is +35. Wow.
• The collapse of Orlando is so shocking, not because the hot-shooting first quarter was likely an aberration, but because the defensive foundation Jamahl Mosley spoke so highly of pre-game was non-existent.
• Scottie finds Poeltl for an easy dunk. Barnes & Ja’Kobe Walter force an Orlando turnover. Raps up 95-80 with 6 minutes remaining. Orlando’s offense doesn’t look like it has the ability to come back, let alone muster 16 more points.
• Da Silva deflection almost leads to a steal but Barrett is quicker to the loose ball and gets an and-one out of it. Barrett completes the and-one to get Toronto to 100 points. Not only does that extend the lead to 15 with under 4 minutes remaining, but it gives the fans free pizza and practically guarantees a win for Toronto: The Magic have lost their last 7 games when giving up 100 points or more.
• Make that 8 games as Mosley pulls Banchero from the game with 2:30 remaining and the Raps up by 17.
• In garbage time, Ulrich Chomche and AJ Lawson each get on the scoreboard. 10-day signee, Orlando Robinson, misses his only field goal attempt.
• Also in garbage time, the Raptors were able to push their lead to 22 points. Yes, Toronto AND Orlando each had 20+ point leads in this game.

The victory is great and all, but the really exciting outcome of this game was the play of Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk. It’s no secret that their names will be mentioned most in trade rumours. With Toronto firmly entrenched in “seller” mode, their increased trade value is a win for Masai Ujiri and Bobby Webster.

Next up for the Raptors is a doubleheader in Atlanta. Will Toronto’s positive play lead to a second (and third) road victory?