Raptors Outpaced by Pelicans in High-Scoring Affair
In a game that saw the scoreboard light up, the Toronto Raptors fell to the New Orleans Pelicans with a final tally of 100-138. The Raptors' season record now stands at 17-33, while the Pelicans improved to 29-21.
The Smoothie King Center in New Orleans witnessed an offensive onslaught as both teams combined for a total of 238 points. Despite their efforts, the Raptors were unable to contain the Pelicans' dynamic offense. The home team led for nearly the entire game, establishing a commanding lead that peaked at 45 points and only allowed one lead change throughout.
Toronto's performance was marked by resilience on offense with six blocks and four steals contributing to their defensive efforts. They dished out 27 assists over four quarters but struggled with turnovers, giving up possession 18 times which translated into ten points for their opponents.
The bench provided half of Toronto's total scoring output with an impressive contribution of 50 points. However, this was overshadowed by their defensive rating reaching an alarming high of approximately 138 points per hundred possessions against them. On offense, they managed just over one point per possession.
The Raptors shot effectively from inside the arc at a rate of around 57 percent but were less successful from beyond it, converting only about one-third of their three-point attempts into scores. From the charity stripe, they made ten free throws out of fifteen attempts – achieving roughly two-thirds success rate.
On the rebounding front, Toronto grabbed a total of 44 rebounds – ten offensive and thirty-four defensive ones – yet this effort was eclipsed by New Orleans who collected fifty-six in total including seventeen on offensive glass leading to twenty-one second-chance points.
Looking ahead after this challenging encounter on court, fans can catch The Toronto Raptors as they travel to face off against Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center in Charlotte on February 7th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. This game will be broadcast internationally on SportsNet and locally on BSSE channel number six hundred forty-nine for those eager to follow along from home or abroad.