The Knicks’ plan: Trade for a disgruntled star.
Knicks executive William Wesley’s reported plan: Acquire Donovan Mitchell — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
“My role and what I’m doing has changed every single night,” Russell Westbrook said.
Sixty-two games into season, Lakers still blindly searching for identity — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
GAME #63 – TORONTO RAPTORS (34-28) vs. ORLANDO MAGIC (15-48)
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2022 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – SCOTIABANK ARENA
TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
ORL@TOR INJURY REPORT AT 6:30 P.M.
Orlando Magic
Bol, Bol Out Injury/Illness – Right Foot; Surgery
Carter Jr., Wendell Out Injury/Illness – N/a; Illness (non-Covid)
Fultz, Markelle Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Injury management
Isaac, Jonathan Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Injury recovery
Wagner, Moritz Out Injury/Illness – Left Rib; Contusion
Toronto Raptors
Anunoby, OG Out Injury/Illness – Right Hand; Ring finger fracture
Johnson, David Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Swelling
VanVleet, Fred Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Soreness
Wilson, D.J. Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Soreness
Young, Thaddeus Available Injury/Illness – Illness; Non-COVID
The Toronto Raptors (34-28) finish a three-game homestand (Mar. 1-4), and a stretch of six games in eight days (Feb. 25 – Mar. 4), Friday night when they host the Orlando Magic (15-48) at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors are 2-3 since the All-Star break. Toronto begins a six-game road trip (Mar. 6-16) Sunday night when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors are 9-4 (.692) in the second game of a back-to-back set this season after going 3-13 (.188) last season.
• Tonight marks the second of three meetings with the Magic this season. Scottie Barnes scored 21 points and Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. both added 19 as the Raptors held on to beat Orlando 110-109 in the first matchup. Toronto has won nine straight against the Magic and 14 of the last 16 meetings.
• Scottie Barnes recorded 21 points and 10 rebounds for his third straight double-double Thursday against the Pistons. Barnes is averaging team highs of 22.3 points and 12.0 rebounds over the last three games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 3). He is the first Raptor rookie to post three consecutive double-doubles since Charlie
Villanueva (Feb. 27 – Mar. 4, 2006). Barnes has now scored 20+ points in 13 games this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter scored 20+ in 23 games during the 1998-99 campaign.
• Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 28 points Thursday vs. Detroit. He is currently averaging 21.2 points, and career bests of 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in 49 games. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka
Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Dejounte Murray. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 over the course of an entire season.
• Precious Achiuwa led the bench with 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds Thursday night against the Pistons. Since the All-Star break, Achiuwa is averaging 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and is shooting 50 percent from the field (27-54), including .429 (6-14) from three, in five games. He has led the reserves in scoring four times and scored 18+ points in three games during this stretch.
• Gary Trent Jr. ranks second in the NBA in steals (1.89). Trent Jr. has recorded five steals in six games this season – only two Raptors have tallied more games with 5+ steals in a single season – Doug Christie (8) in 1996-97 and Alvin Robertson (7) in 1995-96. Trent Jr. has 10 steals in five games since the break.
• All-Star Fred VanVleet has missed three straight games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 3) with right knee soreness. The Raptors are 5-5 without VanVleet in the lineup this season. VanVleet is averaging career highs of 21.4
points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 52 games this season, and ranks third in the NBA in three-pointers made (208) – behind only Stephen Curry (265) and Buddy Hield (210) – despite missing 10 games.
• Scottie Barnes was named Eastern Conference rookie of the month for February after averaging 15.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 31.8 minutes in 12 games last month. Barnes is the 11th player in franchise history to earn the honour.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.3 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.2 STL: 1.1 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 14.9
• Recorded his third straight double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds in 40 minutes Mar. 3 vs. Detroit.
• Has grabbed a team-high 140 offensive rebounds this season, including 18 in the last three games.
• Ranks in the top-five among rookies in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and minutes.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 37.5 REB: 8.4 AST: 5.1 STL: 1.3 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 21.2
• Scored a game-high 28 points Mar. 3 vs. Detroit; added five rebounds and two assists in 43 minutes.
• Leads the Raptors with a single-season career-best 19 double-doubles.
• Toronto is 6-1 this season when Siakam scored 30+ points (Last: 35 points – Feb. 12 vs. Denver).
C – KHEM BIRCH #24
MIN: 18.3 REB: 4.3 AST: 1.1 STL: 0.7 TO: 0.5 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 4.7
• Contributed two points, three rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes of action Mar. 3 vs. Detroit.
• Averaging 5.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and shooting .509 (29-57) from the field in 13 games as a starter.
• Has scored in double figures four times this season (Last: 11 – Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn).
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.8 REB: 2.6 AST: 2.1 STL: 1.9 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.2
• Finished with 14 points, four assists, two rebounds and two assists in 39 minutes Mar. 3 vs. Detroit.
• Has scored 20+ points in 21-of-53 games this season, something he did 15 times in 58 contests last year.
• Ranks second in the NBA in steals per game (1.89) and third in total deflections (188).
G – MALACHI FLYNN #22
MIN: 11.3 REB: 1.4 AST: 1.4 STL: 0.4 TO: 0.3 BLK: 0.1 PTS: 3.9
• Tallied 11 points, three rebounds and one assist in 27 minutes Mar. 3 vs. Detroit.
• Averaging 12.5 points, 4.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 34.0 minutes in four starts this season.
• Has scored in double figures in three straight games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 3), averaging 14.7 points during this stretch.
INJURY REPORT
OG Anunoby (Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture) – Out
David Johnson (Left Knee; Swelling) – Questionable
Fred VanVleet (Right Knee; Soreness) – Out
D.J. Wilson (Left Knee; Soreness) – Out
Thaddeus Young (Illness; Non-COVID) – Questionable
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 34-28 23-17 11-11
HOME 17-14 11-8 6-6
AWAY 17-14 12-9 5-5
OVERTIME 2-1 2-1 0-0
ORLANDO MAGIC
Position # Player Ht. Wt. Comments
Forward 22 Franz Wagner 6-10 220 2021-22: 15.7 ppg., 4.6 rpg.,
2.9 apg.
Led (or tied) the team in scoring
14 times, in rebounding three
times and in assists seven
times…Scored in double figures
a team-high 53 times, 20+ points
15 times and 30+ points once,
including a career-high 38 points
on Dec. 28 vs. Milwaukee…Had
two double-doubles.
Forward 34 Wendell Carter Jr. 6-10 220 2021-22: 14.3 ppg., 10.4 rpg.,
2.7 apg.
Led (or tied) the team in scoring
six times, in rebounding a team-high 39 times and in assists
seven times…Scored in double
figures 42 times and 20+ points
nine times, including a season-high 26 points on Nov. 26 vs.
Chicago…Had team-high 28
double-doubles.
Center 5 Mo Bamba 7-0 235 2021-22: 10.2 ppg., 8.0 rpg.,
1.2 apg., 1.79 blkpg.
Led (or tied) the team in scoring
three times, in rebounding 17
times and in assists
twice…Scored in double figures
29 times, 20+ points once and
30+ points once, including a
career-high 32 points on Jan. 19
@ Philadelphia…Had 12 double-doubles.
Guard 50 Cole Anthony 6-3 190 2021-22: 17.4 ppg., 5.8 apg.,
5.7 rpg.
Led (or tied) the team in scoring
a team-high 20 times, in
rebounding six times and in
assists a team-high 31
times…Scored in double figures
42 times, 20+ points 19 times
and 30+ points three times,
including a season-high 33
points on Nov. 7 vs. Utah and
Dec. 8 @ Sacramento…Had
seven double-doubles.
Guard 4 Jalen Suggs 6-5 205 2021-22: 12.5 ppg., 4.4 apg.,
3.7 rpg., 1.26 stlpg.
Led (or tied) the team in scoring
six times and in assists 14
times…Scored in double figures
31 times and 20+ points four
times, including a career-high 22
points on Jan. 21 vs. L.A.
Lakers…Had two double-double
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT:
Mar. 4 @ Toronto: Orlando is 39-54 all-time vs. Toronto (21-22 at home, 18-28 on the road, 0-1 at London, 0-1 at Disney, 0-2 at
Tampa) during regular season action, including 0-1 this season (see recap below)…The Magic lost all three meetings with the Raptors
last season…The Magic are 5-5 in postseason play against the Raptors (4-1 in 2008 First Round; 1-4 in 2019 First Round)…The Magic
have lost nine consecutive regular season meetings with the Raptors (last win: Feb. 24, 2019, 113-98 @ Toronto) and 28 of the last 33
overall…Orlando has lost 12 of the last 15 meetings at home (including one at London) and 15 of the last 17 on the road (including two
at Tampa in 2020-21)…Terrence Ross was originally selected in the first round (eighth overall) of the 2012 NBA Draft by Toronto and
spent his first four-plus NBA seasons (2012-17, 363 games) with the Raptors before being traded to Orlando on Feb. 14, 2017…Twoway player Ignas Brazdeikis grew up in Canada, living in Winnipeg and Etobicoke before settling in Oakville, Ontario…President of
Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman spent four seasons (2013-17) with Toronto, including his final season as General Manager in 2016-
17…Assistant GM Anthony Parker played in 235 games (226 starts) during three seasons with Toronto from 2006-09…Assistant Coach
Jesse Mermuys spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Raptors from 2013-15 and head coach of their G League affiliate,
Raptors 905, in 2015-16…For all-time results vs. Toronto, see p. 328 of the media guide…Oct. 29 @ Toronto – Raptors 110, Magic
109: Scottie Barnes led five Raptors in double figures with 21 points, as Toronto edged Orlando, 110-109, at Scotiabank Arena.
Fred VanVleet scored 16 of his 19 points during the fourth quarter for the Raptors, while Gary Trent Jr. also had 19 points. Cole Anthony
led the Magic and all scorers with 24 points, while Jalen Suggs scored 21 points. Wendell Carter Jr. tallied 17 points and 12 rebounds,
while Mo Bamba recorded 14 points, a career-high-tying 18 rebounds and three blocked shots. Toronto shot 50 percent from the floor
and committed only eight turnovers. The Raptors led 110-98 with 2:04 left in the contest, but Orlando would not quit, closing the game
with an 11-0 run and had a chance to win the game on the final possession. However, the ball was deflected out of Anthony’s hands
and he was forced to attempt the winner from midcourt, which was off the mark.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. RAPTORS: 39 pts., Dwight Howard (@ Toronto, 1-4-09)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 54 pts., Fred VanVleet (@ Orlando, 2-2-21)
RISING STARS…
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony, guard Jalen Suggs and forward Franz Wagner all participated in the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars,
which was played on Friday, Feb. 18 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland as part of NBA All-Star 2022…Orlando was one of
three teams to have three players named to the event (Detroit, Houston)…Anthony and Suggs played on Team Worthy, led by James
Worthy, while Wagner played on Team Barry, guided by Rick Barry…Suggs scored 16 points, while Anthony had four, as Team Worthy
fell in a heartbreaker to Team Isiah, 50-49…In the other semifinal, Wagner, scored three points during a 50-48 win over Team
Payton…Then in the championship game, Wagner again scored three points, including the game-winning free throw, as Team Barry
defeated Team Isiah, 25-20.
UP, UP AND AWAY…
Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony participated in the NBA AT&T Slam Dunk Contest on Saturday, Feb. 19 at Rocket Mortgage
FieldHouse in Cleveland during State Farm All-Star Saturday Night…This marked the 11th time a player represented the Orlando Magic
during the Slam Dunk contest…Past participants include: Aaron Gordon (2016, 2017, 2020), Victor Oladipo (2015), Dwight Howard
(2007, 2008, 2009), Darrell Armstrong (1996), Nick Anderson (1992) and Otis Smith (1991)…Current Magic guard Terrence Ross won
the Slam Dunk Contest in 2013 as a member of the Toronto Raptors…Anthony did not make it to the final round of the contest.
TRADING PLACES…
At the NBA Trade Deadline on Feb. 10, the Orlando Magic acquired Bol Bol, P.J. Dozier, a future second round draft pick and cash
considerations from Boston in exchange for a protected second round draft pick…Orlando also used TPE to complete the deal…In
addition, the Magic waived Michael Carter-Williams, Dozier and E’Twaun Moore.
HOMELAND…
Orlando is 7-22 this season at the Amway Center…The Magic were 11-25 last season at home…Orlando has gone 205-248 (.453) at
the Amway Center since it opened in 2010-11…The Magic closed Amway Arena after 2009-10 with an all-time record of 535-309 (.634)
in that building.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
Orlando is 8-26 this season on the road…The Magic were 10-26 last season away from home.
MAGIC TRICKS – TAKING A BITE OF THE BIG APPLE
On Oct. 24, Orlando defeated the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, 110-104…Then on Nov. 17, the Magic beat the Knicks on the road
again, 104-98…It marks the first time that Orlando has recorded multiple victories at Madison Square Garden during the same season
since the 2017-18 campaign (Dec. 3, 2017, 105-100 win; Apr. 3, 2018, 97-73 win)…Then on Dec. 18, the Magic defeated Brooklyn at
Barclays Center, 100-93.
OFFENSIVE BEHAVIOR…
The Orlando Magic are averaging 104.0 ppg. (6,551 points), scored 100+ points 41 times (15-26 record) and 110+ points 23 times (10-
13 record), including a season-high 130 points on Dec. 8 @ Sacramento…Last season, Orlando averaged 104.0 ppg. (7,488
points)…The Magic scored 100+ points 43 times (20-23 record), 110+ points 23 times (14-9 record) and 120+ points seven times (6-1
record), including a season-high 130 points on Dec. 26 @ Washington.
Orlando is shooting .435 (2,408-5,535) from the floor and shot 50 percent-or-better five times (5-0 record), including a season-high .543
(44-81) on Dec. 1 vs. Denver…Last season, the Magic shot .429 (2,754-6,423)…The Magic shot 50 percent-or-better six times (6-0
record), including a season-high .519 (42-81) on Feb. 5 vs. Chicago.
MAGIC TRICKS – STAY ON TARGET
Since the 2008-09 campaign, Orlando is 162-42 (.794) when shooting 50 percent-or-better from the field.
THREE’S COMPANY…
The Orlando Magic have made at least one three-point field goal in 1,192 consecutive games, dating all the way back to Mar. 17, 2007
(last game without a three-pointer: Mar. 14, 2007 vs. Utah, 0-for-9)…It stands as the fifth-longest active streak in the NBA and fifth-longest streak in NBA history…The Phoenix Suns have connected on at least one three-pointer in 1,429 games dating back from Mar.
29, 2004, the longest streak in NBA history…The last time an NBA team did not make a three-pointer was Feb. 5, 2016, when Miami
went 0-for-9 @ Charlotte.
Orlando is shooting .330 (751-2,275) from three-point range and made 10+ three-pointers 49 times (14-35 record), including a season-high 19 three-pointers on Nov. 20 @ Milwaukee and Feb. 8 @ Portland…Last season, Orlando shot .343 (784-2,288) and made 10+
three-pointers 50 times (16-34 record), including a season-high 21 three-pointers on Mar. 19 vs. Brooklyn.
MAGIC TRICKS – FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
From Oct. 27-Nov. 1, the Orlando Magic made 15+ three-pointers in four consecutive games, marking the first time they have
accomplished this in franchise history…The Magic made 15 on Oct. 27 vs. Charlotte, 16 on Oct. 29 @ Toronto, 16 on Oct. 30 @ Detroit
and 17 on Nov. 1 @ Minnesota…The only time Orlando had made 15+ three-pointers in three straight games was Jan. 22-25, 2021 (17
on Jan. 22 @ Indiana, 17 on Jan. 24 vs. Charlotte and 19 on Jan. 25 vs. Charlotte).
LOS ANGELES — Reggie Jackson came tantalizingly close to a 40-point triple-double – tantalizingly, anyway, for injured teammates Norman Powell and Jason Preston. Jackson was most pleased by the scoreboard: … 795 more words
Reggie Jackson’s splashy performance lifts Clippers — Press Telegram
When the NBA and its television partners released the schedule of games at the start of this season, ratings-obsessed executives had reason to be excited about Saturday night. Warriors. Lakers. Steph. LeBron. A viewership bonanza, right? Well, not quite. The game is sure to draw eyeballs, but the air has been sucked out of the…
Amid skid, Warriors can learn from Lakers — it could be worse — Red Bluff Daily News
TORONTO & DETROIT POSTGAME VIDEO: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2j8fgl17gig3szo/AAB_ze09Pd9gbmQ4iXZXs3URa?dl=0
 | TORONTO RAPTORSPOSTGAME NOTES |  |
FINAL SCORE: DETROIT PISTONS 108, TORONTO RAPTORS 106
DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022 ATTENDACE: 19,548
| FINAL SCORE | RECORD | HIGH POINTS | HIGH REBOUNDS | HIGH ASSISTS | |
| Detroit | 108 | 16-47 | Grant – 26 | Cunningham – 12 | Joseph – 6 |
| Toronto | 106 | 34-28 | Siakam – 28 | Boucher/Barnes – 10 | Trent Jr. – 4 |
| KEY RUN |
The Pistons began the third quarter on a 26-11 run to open an 18-point lead (86-68), their largest lead of the game, at the 4:09 mark … Detroit led for the entire second half … The Raptors cut the deficit to just one with 37 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but Detroit held Toronto scoreless over the final two possessions to preserve the win … The Pistons improve to a perfect 5-0 when the game is decided by two points or less.
| KEY STAT |
Detroit recorded 25 assists compared to just 12 for Toronto … The Pistons improve to 13-3 when dishing out more assists than their opponents.
RAPTORS NOTES:
PISTONS NOTES:
=
| 2021-22 SEASON-SERIES | ALL-TIME RECORDS | |||||
| DATE | SITE | RESULT | RAPTORS WINS | PISTONS WINS | ||
| 11/13/2021 | Toronto | L 127-121 | Overall: | 38 | 60 | |
| 01/14/2022 | Detroit | L 103-87 | at Toronto: | 19 | 28 | |
| 03/03/2022 | Toronto | L 108-106 | at Detroit: | 19 | 32 | |
ABBOTSFORD CANUCKS (23-17-3-1 – 50 Points) vs.
TORONTO MARLIES (24-16-3-1 – 52 Points)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2022
| 1 | 2 | 3 | OT | FINAL | |
| ABBOTSFORD | 2 | 3 | 1 | – | 6 |
| TORONTO | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | 4 |
GAME SUMMARY | GAME SHEET | PHOTOS | SCRUMS
SCORING SUMMARY
Abbotsford: S. Rempal (21) PP (N. Petan, N. Juulsen), D. Klimovich (6) (Unassisted), B. Hickey (1) (S. Rempal, J. Stevens), S. Rempal (22) (J. Stevens), S. Dries (29) PP (N. Petan, A. Kannok Leipert), N. Petan (12) PP (S. Dries)
Goaltender: M. DiPietro (25/29) W
Toronto: M. Hollowell (5) (C. Douglas, J. Duszak), J. Duszak (5) (Unassisted), B. McMann (12) (M. Hollowell), C. Douglas (5) (R. Clune, B. Menell)
Goaltender: E. Källgren (20/26) L, J. Woll (10/10)
ON THE SCORESHEET
OF NOTE
| RECORD WHEN Scoring first 18-2-1-1 Trailing after 1 6-13-1-0 Trailing after 2 2-13-1-0 At home 12-8-2-1 March 0-1-0-0 Wednesday 4-5-0-1 | MARLIES LEADERS *Amongst active players Goals 19 (J. Anderson) Assists 31 (J. Duszak) Points 39 (B. Seney) PPG 6 (J. Anderson) Shots 112 (A. Steeves) +/- +15 (B. Seney) PIMS 84 (R. Clune) |
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH GREG MOORE
On recent challenges with the penalty kill:
Just the wear and tear we’re putting our penalty kill through with how many penalties we’re taking in the last couple of games. Penalty kill has been strong all year but if we just keep taking minor infractions and keep putting ourselves in the position where the same guys have got to burn energy in that area of the game, we just put ourselves in a tough spot.
BOBBY McMANN (1 GOAL)
On facing a new opponent:
We felt them out a little bit too much and you never want to do that in this league. You know every team is going to come to play and every team is going to be ready, and we show when we have our good starts, that’s when we win hockey games. So unfortunately, we didn’t do that.
UPCOMING GAMES:
*All times Eastern Standard Time
March 5 at Cleveland – 7:00 p.m.
March 6 at Cleveland – 12:00 p.m.
March 8 vs. Providence – 3:00 p.m.
March 9 vs. Abbotsford – 11:00 a.m.
March 11 at Utica – 7:00 p.m.
The view from left field 