The Raptors eventually remained quiet as Walter and Mogbo left with injuries

There was a lot of complaining about Chris Boucher on the Kings’ first-half broadcast, and for good reason: Boucher scored 13 points on 5/8 shooting. This, of course, after Boucher scored 24 points on 13 shots against the Kings in Toronto to help the Raptors to their second win of the season – a great end to Vince Carter’s big night of celebration. Boucher persevered, a kind of avatar for these Raptors, and the Kings broadcast had seen enough. They expected the Raptors’ starting point guard to have a bad attitude, but perhaps not so much from their backup big man.

However, the Raptors invited this from Boucher, as they have done all season. Boucher put these NBA games into overdrive by trying to score as many points as possible in a very short window of time. Scoring 10 points per game in under 18 minutes per game and doing so with efficient shooting. After the Kings managed to get coach Rajakovic to pull Gradey Dick out of the game early with three fouls, the Raptors were short on offense and needed every ounce Boucher could provide. The hallmarks are there, of course: a healthy pursuit of offensive rebounds, a willingness to fill the lane and a flurry of 3-point attempts. RJ Barrett chose the offense because he’s always in charge of the offense, but Boucher and Jonathan Mogbo in particular helped give the Raptors an extra dose of power to help the Raptors keep up early. Davion Mitchell’s willingness to apply pressure often in transition was also a big help.

What was also good news was that the Raptors found their night-of-zone buster in Ochai Agbaji, who cashed in three consecutive possessions to shake the Kings out of a defense that plunged the Raptors into a slight drought . When the Kings went back to man-to-man coverage, the Raptors were able to swing the ball down the court and had a great run of play with three layups from Jakob Poeltl that gave them an 8-point lead midway through the third quarter. But like those Raptors, the turnover monster reared its ugly head and spurred a run that tied the game back up. There was also a couple very long Closeouts by Poeltl on Domantas Sabonis that I could argue about, but that’s life.

As always, it was the Raptors who were shorthanded. Really, the story of the season so far. And a story that is never afraid to include a wide range of characters. A lineup made a little smaller with a bone-crushing Sabonis screen that sent Ja’Kobe Walter out of the game with a bruised right ACL joint. Yes, you read that correctly. Mogbo also had to leave the game due to his right hip pointer.

Towards the end of the third quarter everything came to a complete halt. The Kings scored on almost everything they ran, and the Raptors scored on almost everything Barrett ran. That unique toughness he possesses as a driver has continued to be used by the offense to the Raptors’ advantage. Something, something about a mouse turning cream into butter. The Raptors led by four points (93-89) entering the final frame, thanks largely to the strength of Barrett (23 points), Boucher (15 points) and Mitchell (14 points and 6 assists, with great defense from De’Aaron Fox). .

Dick hit what the Kings broadcast’s Mark Jones called a “classic shot” to open the scoring of the fourth quarter. A stutter rip into a jump stop, a pump fake and a slick jumper for 2. Really classy. On the other hand, however, the Kings put Dick into action and reaped the rewards. The Raptors defense as a whole struggled to maintain composure and attention to detail early in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Raptors juggled a struggling Dick and a struggling Battle all night long. They couldn’t find any consistency on defense at this point. Plus, Jamal Shead couldn’t handle the ball pressure on the other side, the Kings outshot the Raptors over the break every time they tried to go downhill, it was tough – and they lost the lead.

After giving up the lead, the ball repeatedly found its way into the capable hands of DeMar DeRozan. A post touch to anyone (most commonly Barrett late in the game) and a bucket. Or a double that led to a bucket. If the Raptors had to stretch out that much, it meant giving up a catch-and-shoot position or a rebounding position.

For a Raptors team that has fought tirelessly over the last seven games – holding out for the count, coming back and forcing possession on other teams – we finally saw the wheels slip a little. The Raptors went on a 15-4 run, opened the first half of the fourth quarter with a 27-9 run and ultimately lost the final frame 33-14. There was no dick-shooting explosion, Boucher couldn’t score another 13-point half, and that’s what it turned out to be Was a stopping point for Barrett’s seemingly (at times) unstoppable driving skills. Mitchell had a wonderful performance in his return to Sacramento, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Lots of traveling, lots of games and now two days off. The Raptors seem to need it. It could even be that Immanuel Quickley joins them on back-to-back weekends.

I wish you a blessed day.