Roy Hibbert returned after missing the previous five games with right knee soreness and looked tentative at times.
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Charlotte came into the game without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (sore lower back) and Jeremy Lamb (hamstring) but Roy Hibbert did return to the team. There has been no update from the Raptors’ medical and coaching staff on whether the 7-foot center will have a restriction on his playing time.
Pascal Siakam had an impressive start to the third quarter with seven of Toronto’s first nine points.
Teague responded with a 3-pointer that tied the game at 93 with 2:56 left before Embiid took over.
The loss of MKG would prove costly in this one as the Hornets’ best perimeter defender wouldn’t be able to guard DeRozan. Porzingis continues to make silly fouls and it has hurt him and the team’s play.
The 23-year-old was three of five from the floor and made all eight of his free-throws to notch career-bests in both attempts and makes from the stripe.
When it comes to compelling and even dramatic storylines, DeMar DeRozan is a pretty boring dude. DeRozan checked back into the game with the score knotted up at 97. History doesn’t just have to be honored on anniversaries ending in “0” or “5”. “That’s what we’ve got to have out of him and Kyle (Lowry) in those important moments”. And then the Hornets went completely cold. The New York Knicks are allowing 37.1 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 41.3 rebounds per game. NY is 0-1 in the back end of back-to-backs this season.
Slow start to second half, but Batum and Kemba start scoring, cut lead to 8. “M.V.P.!” as he shot the subsequent free throw.
“We’re just going to keep riding that coattail”, Lowry said.
Toronto Raptors’ guard DeMar DeRozan (10) drives against New York Knicks’ forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the first half on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.
Being outscored by 13 that quarter, the Hornets trailed by as many as 16. Terrence Ross came off the bench to contribute 11 points in six minutes.
The Hornets established they’re good by winning six of their first seven this season. “Joel was the focal point at the end”.
Rose had a big half after getting slaughtered Friday in Boston by Isaiah Thomas, when he committed seven turnovers. Charlotte eventually, improbably pushed the lead thanks to contributions from everyone, which is what they needed the entire game. In the second half, he picked up where he left off and got some help.
Rose replied with two consecutive baskets to tie the game, but when Nogueira took flight for a huge putback dunk with just under three minutes to play, it gave the Raptors a four-point cushion.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough incredible in the tank for Charlotte.
Coming off a tight win against the Charlotte Hornets, the Raptors passed the test of the first back-to-back of the season Saturday night when they hosted the New York Knicks on Huskies night. The Knicks have not won a season series against the Raptors since 2010-2011. A few wide-open looks were missed and second chances went from potential points to ricochets and awful 3-point heaves.
After blasting Toronto for 29 points through three quarters, Anthony, ejected Friday in Boston, was nearly shut out in the final stanza as the Raptors sprinted away with the game down the stretch to post a 118-107 victory at Air Canada Centre.
He finished with a team-high 31 points.
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Fantasy Impact Carmelo Anthony on the season is averaging 22.4 points, 2.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds a game.
