The suddenly surging Toronto Raptors aim to extend their season-best three-game winning streak when they return home to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
Toronto completed a two-game road sweep of the Atlanta Hawks with a 117-94 victory on Saturday. The Raptors have won five of their past six games following a five-game losing streak.
“Great win, our guys were able to sustain their intensity at the defensive end,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “Proud of our defensive effort. Still think we can add another layer discipline-wise and execution-wise to be better.
“We shared the ball, played together,” he added.
The Raptors lost 21 turnovers, leading to 17 Atlanta points, but that was offset by the Hawks’ 24 turnovers leading to 24 points. The Raptors had committed 20 turnovers leading to 28 points on Thursday in their 122-119 win over the Hawks.
“Definitely not happy with our turnovers again, 21 is way too much and we’ve got to continue addressing that and getting better in that area,” Rajakovic said.
Toronto limited Atlanta’s Trae Young to 16 points and four assists on Saturday and also forced him to lose a season-high 11 turnovers.
“Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Bruce Brown, all those three are elite defenders and we really wanted to make it hard on (Young), to pick up full court, to be physical with him,” Rajakovic said. “Especially when he gives the ball up, to not allow him to get it back in his hands.”
Scottie Barnes collected 24 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists, two blocked shots and two steals for the Raptors on Saturday. RJ Barrett added 23 points and eight rebounds, and reserve Chris Boucher contributed 23 points.
Toronto shot 46.7 percent (42-for-90) from the field, including 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from 3-point range.
The Raptors had only one previous road win this season, 119-93 on Nov. 27 at the Pelicans. The win over Atlanta on Thursday ended Toronto’s nine-game road losing streak.
The Pelicans are coming off a 123-92 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday. They complete a three-game road trip on Monday.
“We didn’t bring it, we didn’t have it. No excuses, they kicked our butts,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said.
The Pelicans were 8-for-31 on 3-point attempts (25.8 percent) and 32-for-84 from the field overall (38.1 percent).
“We didn’t play with any force,” Green said.
Zion Williamson had 28 points and 11 rebounds in his fifth game back from a hamstring injury. He had missed the two most recent games because of illness.
“He was attacking, he was getting downhill, getting to the basket,” Green said. “He did a great job rebounding, which is an area we have to improve in. Just getting him on the floor and, hopefully, he can continue gaining his rhythm.”
The Pelicans were without guard Dejounte Murray (sprained right index finger and right elbow bursitis).
Jordan Hawkins scored 14 points as Murray’s replacement in the starting lineup. Trey Murphy III scored 16 points and Yves Missi scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
“It starts with our ability to play with force and be mentally tough during difficult circumstances, and (Saturday) was not our best job,” Green said.
Kelly Olynyk did not play for Toronto on Saturday because of tightness in his right calf. Ochai Agbaji (hand) and Immanuel Quickley (hip) remained out for Toronto.
In Toronto’s win over New Orleans two months ago, Agbaji and Jamison Battle each scored 24 points. CJ McCollum scored 19 points for New Orleans.
–Field Level Media
