[ad_1]
The Toronto Raptors are 3-3 at the beginning of the season by reaping a new victory in their pavilion by 109-110 against the Orlando Magic. Rookie Scottie Barnes, who picked 4th in the 2021 Draft, led the home team with 21 points and 9 rebounds.
Next to him, the backcourt starters Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. each had 19 points; and OG Anunoby completed with 16 points and 5 rebounds.
VanVleet scored 16 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter alone, and teammate Trent Jr. was instrumental down the stretch with a crucial defense over Cole Anthony.
“He put his hand on the ball and killed the possession clock,” admitted coach Jamahl Mosley of Trent Jr.’s latest defensive action.
Cole Anthony had an outstanding job with 24 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 5/6 on triples. However, he failed to connect the last pitch that would have meant the second win for his team.
Center Mo Bamba also had a remarkable performance with 14 points, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks; and his paint partner Wendell Carter Jr. added another double-double: 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Rookies duel
Toronto let Jalen Suggs pass in the 2021 Draft on Barnes’s bet, and the Gonzaga-trained player went to Orlando in 5th place. Their showdown last night was more than just a regular season game.
Barnes stood out with 21 points, 9 rebounds and 9 of 14 in shooting from the field; and Suggs also had 21 points with a 4 of 8 in triples.
“Every time you face someone who was chosen ahead of you, you know that he was chosen ahead of you. You are not a competitor if you don’t think like that, ”said Cole Anthony.
“We were both pretty good tonight. Of course it is a competition between the two every time we face each other. I’d say it was a lot of fun, ”Scottie Barnes acknowledged.
It is worth mentioning that both have a great friendship because they have coincided in the lower categories of Team USA. Barnes and Suggs won the gold medal in the U-17 and U-19 World Cups. At the end of the clash they merged into a strong hug and posed together for the local press.
Historic in Toronto
Scottie Barnes is the second rookie in Raptors history to score at least 100 points in his first six games. The first to do so was point guard Damon Stoudemire, named Rookie of The Year from the 1995-96 regular season.
(Cover photo: Mark Blinch / Getty Images)
[ad_2]