TORONTO FC ACQUIRES ALLOCATION MONEY FROM COLORADO Toronto FC announced today that the club has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the rights to forward Nicolas Benezet. Toronto FC could receive an additional $50,000 in GAM if Benezet meets certain performance-based metrics with the Rapids.
TRANSACTION: Toronto FC announced today that the club has acquired $50,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for the rights to forward Nicolas Benezet. Toronto FC could receive an additional $50,000 in GAM if Benezet meets certain performance-based metrics with the Rapids.
At least one Boston Red Sox observer predicts change might be coming for the team. Peter Abraham, who covers the Red Sox for The Boston Globe, said Monday night on “NESN After Hours” potential penalties against manager Alex Cora and the team could “change the organization completely.” Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred suspended Houston…
Jason Spezza (41), John Tavares (41), Morgan Rielly (19)
GOALS:
John Tavares (18), Jason Spezza (8), Auston Matthews (5)
ASSISTS:
Jason Spezza (27), John Tavares (16), Morgan Rielly (6)
POINTS:
Jason Spezza (35), John Tavares (34), Auston Matthews (10)
PENALTY MINUTES:
Jason Spezza (18), John Tavares (16), William Nylander (8), Morgan Rielly (8)
MAPLE LEAFS – DEVILS TEAM STATS
TORONTO
NEW JERSEY
GOALS FOR (Rank):
165 (1st)
118 (t-28th)
GOALS AGAINST (Rank):
150 (27th)
152 (29th)
POWER PLAY [%] (Rank):
29/122 [23.2%] (7th)
32/139 [14.3%] (30th)
PENALTY KILL [%] (Rank):
99/130 [75.8%] (26th)
90/115 [80.1%] (17th)
SHOTS (Rank):
1547 (5th)
1401 (21st)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPTS FOR (Rank):
2342 (3rd)
1868 (29th)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT % (Rank):
52.8% (6th)
47.1% (28th)
FACEOFF % (Rank):
52.6% (3rd)
47.3% (29th)
MAPLE LEAFS – DEVILS NOTES
FIRST MATCHUP BETWEEN CLUBS:
October 9, 1974 vs. Kansas City (Toronto 6, Kansas City 2)
ALL-TIME RECORD:
74-41-20-9 (144 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD AT HOME:
47-17-5-3 (73 Games)
ALL-TIME RECORD ON THE ROAD:
27-24-15-5 (71 Games)
LAST WIN VS. OPPONENT AT HOME:
November 9, 2018 (Toronto 6, New Jersey 1)
MAPLE LEAFS MILESTONES vs. DEVILS
Alex Kerfoot
Selected by New Jersey in the fifth round (150th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft.
William Nylander
200th NHL game (Jan. 10, 2019 at NJD)
John Tavares
300th NHL goal (Jan. 10, 2019 at NJD)
MAPLE LEAFS LEADERS
CATEGORY
LEADER
GOALS
31 (Matthews)
ASSISTS
31 (Marner)
POINTS
54 (Matthews)
POWER PLAY POINTS
16 (Matthews)
SHORTHANDED POINTS
2 (Engvall, Kapanen)
PIMs
34 (Muzzin)
SHOTS
175 (Matthews)
FACEOFF WIN%
57.8% (Gauthier)
5-on-5 SHOT ATTEMPT %
55.6% (Matthews)
BLOCKED SHOTS
71 (Ceci)
TAKEAWAYS
51 (Matthews)
HITS
87 (Muzzin)
TOI PER GAME
24:15 (Rielly)
PP TOI PER GAME
3:05 (Marner)
SH TOI PER GAME
2:58 (Ceci)
MAPLE LEAFS PLAYER NOTES
Frederik Andersen
– Is 9-4-5 at home this season with a 3.09 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. – Has made eight career appearances against the Devils and is 6-2-0 with a 1.87 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage.- Third in the NHL in wins (21).- Third in the NHL in total saves (1,010) and second in even-strength saves (856).
Tyson Barrie
– Has four multi-assist games, which is tied for 12th-most among NHL defencemen.- Tied for 11th among NHL defencemen in multi-point games (7) – One of 13 NHL defencemen to have recorded at least 115 shots on goal (118).- Has seven points (1 goal, 6 assists) in 14 games against Metropolitan Division opposition.
Cody Ceci
– 14th among NHL skaters in shorthanded time on ice (136:35).- Has played 61.7 percent of Toronto’s shorthanded ice time, which is tied for the 14th-highest shorthanded time on ice percentage among NHLers who have appeared in at least 30 games.
Pierre Engvall
– Second among NHL rookies who have appeared in at least 20 games in goals per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time (1.18).- Averages 4.2 shots on goal per 60 minutes of ice time while shorthanded.
Justin Holl
– Has started 45.2 percent of his 5-on-5 shifts in the offensive zone, which is the lowest mark among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 20 games.- Has an unblocked shot attempt percentage of 52.8 percent at 5-on-5, which is the third-highest percentage among Toronto defencemen who have appeared in at least 20 games.- Has a 5-on-5 on-ice goals-for percentage of 55.3 percent, which is the highest percentage among Maple Leafs defencemen who have appeared in at least 20 games.
Michael Hutchinson
– Has a 2-1-1 record with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage on home ice this season.
Zach Hyman
– Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.7 percent, which is tied for fourth among Toronto skaters who have played 20 games.- Has an on-ice goals for percentage of 58.1 percent at 5-on-5, which is third among Toronto skaters who have played 20 games. – Averaging 15:20 per game in 5-on-5 ice time, which ranks seventh among Maple Leafs.
Kasperi Kapanen
– Tied for third among Maple Leafs in points (2-7-9; 8 GP) since the Christmas break.- Has scored 10 goals this season, which is tied for 10th most among NHLers with no power play goals.- Fifth among Toronto skaters in even-strength points (8-15-23).
Alex Kerfoot
– Tied for eighth among Maple Leafs in even-strength goals (6). – Ninth among Maple Leafs in even-strength points (6-9-15).- Only Toronto forward to have recorded at least 25 hits (35) and 25 blocked shots (26) this season.
Mitch Marner
– Has eight multi-assist games, which is tied for the ninth-most among NHL skaters.- Averaging 1.26 points per game, which is tied for the 10th-highest average among NHLers who have played in at least 30 games.- Averaging 1.30 primary assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is sixth among NHLers who have appeared in at least 30 games.- Tied for 13th in the NHL in primary assists (19). His 19 primary assists are tied for the most among NHLers who have appeared in fewer than 40 games.- Tied for 14th among NHL forwards in shifts per game (24.9).
Auston Matthews
– Second among NHL skaters in goals (31).- First NHLer to score 20 even-strength goals this season. Currently leads the League with 23 even-strength goals.- Leads the NHL in goals scored at 5-on-5 (20).- Leads the NHL in multi-goal games (8).- Tied for 10th among NHL skaters in even-strength points (23-15-38).- Fifth in the NHL with 175 shots on goal.
William Nylander
– Averages 1.17 goals per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which ranks second among Toronto skaters and is tied for 22nd among NHL skaters who have appeared in 40 games.- One of 17 NHLers to average at least 14:00 minutes per game at 5-on-5 (14:31) while maintaining a goal per 60-minute rate of at least 1.10 (1.17).- Had a goal and two assists against the Devils on December 27.
Jason Spezza
– Has recorded seven points (3-4-7) in 11 games against Metropolitan Division opposition.- Averaging 2.24 points per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which is the fifth-highest average among Toronto skaters who have appeared in at least 20 games.- Averaging 1.31 assists per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5 this season, which ranks third among Maple Leafs who have appeared in at least 20 games.
John Tavares
– Tied for 19th among NHL skaters in multi-point games (12).- Tied for 32nd among NHLers in even-strength goals (14). His 14 even-strength goals are tied for the most among NHLers who have appeared in fewer than 40 games.- Has a 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage of 54.8 percent, which is 20th among NHL centres who have appeared in 30 games.- Averaging 17.75 shot attempts per 60 minutes of ice time at 5-on-5, which is the fourth-highest average among NHL centres who have appeared in 30 games.- Averaging 9.46 shots on goal at 5-on-5 per 60 minutes of ice time, which is ninth among NHL centres who have appeared in 30 games.
CURRENT POINT STREAKS
Kasperi Kapanen
Has assists (6) and points (1-6-7) in five consecutive games.
LAST GAME vs. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING The Devils defeated the Lightning, 3-1, in the second of three contests of the 2019-20 regular season series. New Jersey improves to (1-0-1; 3 pts) against Tampa Bay this season. New Jersey will face-off against Tampa for the third and final time, March 15 at Amalie Arena. Tonight concludes the clubs 11th of 16 sets of back-to-back action. The Devils improve their 5-6-1 record in second games. The victory marks the first time the Devils have won both games in back-to-back play this season (last: 11/15 vs PIT, 11/16 @ MTL). New Jersey improves to 6-6-2 (3-3-2 home) against Atlantic Division opponents this season. The Lightning outshot the Devils, 27-20. The 20 shots on goal ties a season low for the Devils in one game. New Jersey was 23-37 (62%) in face-offs tonight. The Devils are 4- 3-1 at Prudential Center and 5-8-1 overall against the Lightning since the 2015-16 season. Andy Greene notched the Devils first goal of the game, 3:10 into the second period assisted by Miles Wood and Jack Hughes. The tuck gives Greene his first of the season, and is now two goals away from his 50th of his NHL/NJD career. Travis Zajac tallied the game winner for the Devils 9:52 into the second frame, assisted by Nikita Gusev and Damon Severson. Zajac is now two goals shy from tying Zach Parise for fourth place on the Devils all-time goals list. Gusev extends his point streak to three games (1/9-12; 1G-2A). Wood notched the empty net goal, 19:59 into the third frame, the latest recorded goal in a period this season for New Jersey. Wayne Simmonds and Greene assisted Wood’s tuck. Wood extends his goal streak to two games, Greene notches his second multi-point game this season (1G-1A) and Simmonds extends his assist streak to two games. Louis Domingue got the start for his seventh of the season (second consecutive). Domingue stopped 26 of 27 shots faced, and improves to 3-4-0 this season (2-1-0 vs. Atlantic). TONIGHT’S GAME @ TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS Tonight’s contest marks the second of three contests between New Jersey and Toronto in the 2019-20 regular season series. The Leafs defeated the Devils in the first matchup at Prudential Center, Dec. 27, 5-4, in overtime. The club opens up a three game road trip before the All-Star break. After Toronto, the Devils will travel to Washington and end in Columbus on Saturday. New Jersey is 2-4 on the penalty kill, and 1-3 on the power play through one contest. The Maple Leafs are outshooting the Devils, 37-
New Jersey is 24-46 (52%) in the face-off circle through one game played. Nico Hischier (1G-2A), Kyle Palmieri (1G-2A) and Jesper Bratt (1G-2A) lead New Jersey in scoring against Toronto, tallying three points each in the late December matchup. Mackenzie Blackwood fell in overtime in the first matchup. Blackwood stopped 32 out of 37 shots against. Louis Domingue is a career 1-0-0 against Tampa Bay, allowing two goals on 39 shots against (.949 SV%). Cory Schneider is 7-1-4, posting a 2.05 GAA in his career against the Leafs. William Nylander (1G-2A) and John Tavares (1G-2A) lead Toronto in scoring against the Devils. Nylander notched the game winner for the Maple Leafs in the contest. Michael Hutchinson earned the victory allowing four goals in 62:30 minutes of action. Frederik Anderson is a career 6-2-0 against the Devils allowing 15 goals posting a 1.87 GAA. The Devils are 1-2-3 at Scotiabank Arena and 4-5-4 overall against the Maple Leafs since the 2015-16 season. New Jersey will face-off against Toronto for the third and final time this season, March 17 at Scotiabank Arena. INJURIES Ben Street (I.R.) – 2 games missed; Upper-body injury sustained Jan. 9 Mackenzie Blackwood (Day-to-day) – 2 games missed; Upper-body sustained Jan. 9 Kyle Palmieri (Day-to-day) – 1 game missed; Lower-body sustained Jan. 11 Total Man-Games Lost to Injury: 84 PRIDE NIGHT The New Jersey Devils will host their Fourth Annual Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 4 vs. the Colorado Avalanche (7:00 p.m. game. In honor of the NHL’s “Hockey is For Everyone” initiative, the Devils will hold a pregame Panel featuring gold medalist and U.S Women’s Ice Hockey Team Captain Meghan Duggan and LGBTQ athletes and coaches. Proceeds from the sales of player-used sticks wrapped with pride tape, pride-themed hats, shirts and more will benefit You Can Play and Garden State Equality. This year’s game is being held in collaboration with Newark Gay Pride, a volunteer organization that engages in advocacy, education, programming and recreational events in support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Newark. Pre-Game Pride Night Panel: The Annual Pride Night Pregame Panel, in partnership with OutSports, featured Centenary University wrestler Alec Donovan, former student-athlete Arman Bashiri and Greenburgh North Castle UFSD Athletic Director and Basketball Coach Anthony Nicodemo and U.S. Women’s Olympic Team Captain and Gold Medalist Meghan Duggan as moderator. The diverse panel of athletes shared their insights on the challenges facing the LGBTQ community, recent successes and milestones, and ambitions for the future. Pride Tape Stick and Drum Auction: Devils players warm-up sticks and Mascot “N.J. Devil’s” drum, wrapped in Pride Tape, will be will be autographed and auctioned off following the game at NewJerseyDevils.com/Auction. The online auction is live through Jan. 18, 2020 with proceeds benefitting You Can Play and Garden State Equality. Game Presentation Honors for LGBTQ Community Leaders: In celebration of local LGBTQ community and industry leaders, the National Anthem will be sung by long-time Devils National Anthemguest singer Max DeFrancesco, a member of the LGBTQ community; Newark Gay Pride will act as Honor Guard; and Backward Flag Brewery owner Torie Fisher will be honored as Hero of the Game.
Devils Pride On Monday, March 23, the New Jersey Devils will host Hockey is for Everyone: Gender Equality Night. The night will include an allwomen pregame panel and networking event titled, Women in the Business of Hockey. The panel will feature influential women who hold various roles on the business side of hockey. Proceeds from 50/50 sales will benefit Devils Care Foundation with funds earmarked for Girls Youth Hockey Initiatives.
MILESTONES
*Jesper Boqvist – 1st NHL goal (Nov. 26 vs. MIN) *Will Butcher – 200th NHL GP (Jan. 11 @ WSH)
*Blake Coleman – 200 GP NJD/NHL (Nov. 19 vs. BOS)
*Andy Greene – Passed Scott Niedermayer for 7 th place all time in Devils/franchise GP (893)(Dec. 3 vs. VGK) -900 th NJD/NHL GP (Dec. 20 vs. WSH) -2 G to 50 NJD/NHL -5 A to 200 NJD/NHL
*Nikita Gusev – 1 st NHL goal (Oct. 4 vs. WPG)
*John Hayden – 1 st Devils point (1A; Nov. 23 vs. DET) -1 st Devil goal (Dec. 23 @ CHI)
*Jack Hughes – 1 st NHL point (Oct. 17 vs. NYR; 1A) -1 st NHL goal (Oct. 19 vs. VAN)
*Kyle Palmieri – 500 th NHL GP (Oct. 10 vs. EDM) -100 th Devils assist (Nov. 1 vs. PHI) -300 th NHL point (Oct. 30 vs. TB; 3G) -50 th PPG (Oct. 30 vs. TB) -150 th NHL assists (Nov. 28 @ MTL)
*Damon Severson – 400 th NHL/NJD GP *Ben Street – 1 st NJD point (1A; Jan. 7 vs. NYI) *P.K. Subban – 100 th NHL goal (Nov. 2 @ CAR)
*Sami Vatanen – 100 th Devils GP (Jan. 15 @ CBJ) -400 th NHL GP (Nov. 4 @ WPG)
*Miles Wood – 200 th NHL/NJD GP (Oct. 4 vs. WPG)
*Travis Zajac – Passed John MacLean for fifth place in GP in NJD franchise history with 935 (Nov. 5 @ WPG) -Tied Kirk Muller for third place on the Devils all-time points list (520) (Jan. 2 @ NYI; 1A) -Passed Muller for third place on the Devils-all-time points list (522)(Jan. 9 @ NYR; 2A) -2 G to tie Zach Parise four fourth place on the Devils all-time goals list
RECENT HAPPENINGS
Dec. 14: Placed Louis Domingue on I.R.
-Recalled Evan Cormier from Binghamton (AHL) Dec. 16: Traded Taylor Hall and Blake Speers to Arizona in exchange for Arizona’s first-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft (top-three protected), Arizona’s third-round selection (conditional) in 2021, defenseman Kevin Bahl and forwards Nick Merkley and Nate Schnarr Dec. 17: Assigned Evan Cormier to Binghamton (AHL) -Recalled Gilles Senn from Binghamton (AHL) Dec. 18: Activated Connor Carrick off of I.R. Dec. 24: Assigned Michael McLeod to Binghamton (AHL) Dec. 28: Activated Louis Domingue off of I.R. and assigned to Binghamton (AHL) Dec. 30: Signed prospect Nikita Okhotyuk to a three-year entry level contract. Jan. 1: Assigned Gilles Senn to Binghamton (AHL)
-Recalled Louis Domingue from Binghamton (AHL) Jan. 4: Recalled Ben Street from Binghamton (AHL) Jan. 5: Activated Matt Tennyson off of I.R. and placed on waivers Jan. 6: Matt Tennyson cleared waivers, assigned to Binghamton (AHL) Jan. 11: Recalled Evan Cormier from Binghamton (AHL) Jan. 12: Placed Ben Street on I.R. -Assigned Evan Cormier to Binghamton (AHL) –Recalled Cory Schneider from Binghamton (AHL)
Lakers center Dwight Howard hangs on the basket as he dunks during the first half of Monday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Staples Center. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, right, shoots as Lakers center JaVale McGee, led, defends as forward LeBron James watches during the first half of Monday’s game…
MAPLE LEAFS DEFENCEMAN MORGAN RIELLY INJURY UPDATE
The Maple Leafs announced today that defenceman Morgan Rielly underwent a CT scan this afternoon after sustaining an injury in last night’s game against Florida and will be out a minimum of eight weeks with a fractured foot. Rielly will be placed on injured reserve and will be reassessed after eight weeks by the Maple Leafs medical staff.
Rielly, 25, has recorded 27 points (three goals, 24 assists) in 46 games with the Maple Leafs this season. The Vancouver, BC native has registered 270 points (54 goals, 216 assists) in 516 regular season games and 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 20 playoffs games.
The Maple Leafs return to action tomorrow when they host the New Jersey Devils at 7:00 p.m.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – Daniel Norris is coming off career highs in games started and strikeouts, but as the Science Hill alum gears up for another season in the Motor City, Norris hosted his annual pitching clinic Saturday at RBI Tri-Cities in Johnson City. The Detroit Tigers hurler avoided arbitration on Friday and agreed […]
SUNRISE, Fla. — A reminder as the Maple Leafs drag themselves home, weighed down by their first three-game losing streak under coach Sheldon Keefe. Read More
Denver Nuggets guard Will Barton (5) shoots against Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac (40) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in Denver. AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant (9) during the first quarter of an NBA…
(17-21) SAN ANTONIO SPURS, 105 VS. (25-14) TORONTO RAPTORS, 104 SCOTIABANK ARENA SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2020
TORONTO RAPTORS QUOTES
NICK NURSE (HEAD COACH)
On stopping moving the ball in the fourth quarter … I think there was a pretty decent three presenting itself pretty early in the offence and we probably took a bunch of those. Again, I have to look at it a little bit, but it felt like a lot of those were wide open threes.
On preferring to wait later in the shot clock … Well, now that I am sitting right here I would like to go back and pass it around a few a times and see what else was there and take that. But it’s not really our mindset in general. We want guys to take open shots, whether they are early or late, but we certainly could have attacked it better, but we don’t seem to make enough shots against it.
On how the team played with Norm Powell and Pascal Siakam back … For the most part pretty good, I’m not sure why it related to offence missing some shots, but our defence, we were doing everything perfectly for a long stretch and then we just totally broke down. There was no help anywhere all of a sudden and that wasn’t the case for the most part of the game. It was one after another, drive down the lane to the rim, parade to the free throw line didn’t help. So there was a little bit of disconnection there I would say, but it was pretty good for a lot of the game.
On DeMar DeRozan getting going in the second half … Well I think you certainly have to give him credit for it, but I would say that again, our game plan was certainly not to let him drive right down the middle of the lane and play one-on-one and lay it in, dunk, dunk that kind of stuff. Our game plan was getting executed pretty good to send help and rotate out and make him kick it out. They did a nice job adjusting to get him the ball in the middle of the floor and iso-ing him and he took it really aggressively downhill and played really well.
PASCAL SIAKAM (15 points, five rebounds, four assists)
Physically, how did it feel to be back? It felt good. Obviously I’m happy to be back. Definitely a little tired, but that’s what it takes being out a month. I haven’t played significant basketball in a long time. I felt good though, it felt good to be back out there.
On DeMar DeRozan in the fourth quarter… He did good. When he gets to the rim and gets playing like that he’s dangerous. We have to do a better job of plugging the gaps and making sure we don’t let him get to the rim. I think there by the end he got there easily and got easy buckets. He got going, we just can’t let that happen.
What happened in the fourth quarter? They did a good job running in transition and making shots. I think we got a little sloppy.
KYLE LOWRY (16 points, 15 assists)
How did things get away from you guys in the fourth quarter? We stopped playing, we stopped being aggressive, we stopped being assertive. They got more aggressive, they got faster and we missed shots, too. We didn’t go to our zone offence … a lot of things went spiraling downhill.
On play of DeMar DeRozan in the fourth quarter… He got to the free throw line, got a couple shots and I think three dunks in the third, a mid-range floater, another banker. Just played his game and stayed patient.
On the return of Norman Powell and Pascal Siakam… They looked good for guys coming back from a month off and injury. You’re not going to be perfect, but Pascal had a great start and I think the fatigue caught up to him a lithe bit down the stretch, but it’s just going to be a work in progress in getting our guys back, and Norm looked good, he made a couple of open shots. Just the fatigue and the minutes in getting their legs and rhythm back under them.
NORMAN POWELL (20 points, four assists)
How did it feel physically to be back out there tonight? It felt good to be out there running up and down competing. Physically the body felt good, legs probably needed a little second to get underneath me, but other than that it was good.
Did you feel your conditioning at any point in the game? No not really, it was more so being on a minutes restriction, sitting down, staying activated and warmed up where you felt the fatigue, but on the floor once you get going and everything like that, just playing basketball you’re not really thinking about it, just trying to do what you need to do out there to help your team win.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS QUOTES
GREGG POPOVICH (HEAD COACH)
Was the defence the main thing that triggered the comeback? It’s never one thing. I just think we just kept playing and we got more and more aggressive as the half went on. Didn’t really make a lot of shots but I thought defensively we gave ourselves an opportunity to win, and it worked out.
On Jakob Poeltl… He’s had a really good year. He was solid tonight, he played well but he’s had even better games.
On LaMarcus Aldridge tap out rebound at the end… Everybody knew that those were the most important rebounds of the night, and everybody went after it and that’s how it worked out.
DEMAR DEROZAN (25 points, eight rebounds, four assists)
What does this comeback say about the team? It says a lot. It’s a great team. Being down what we were down, to fight back and pull it out, especially on the road.
How much fun is the game for you right now with the run you’re on? It’s fun just being able to go out there and compete. Once you have that confidence, no matter if you have a slow start, you’re not going to get down on yourself and get frustrated. You know it’s going to come back around. It goes a long way. You can tell when guys have it.
On his video tribute… I don’t know anyone who gets two video tributes in a row. Find someone else who has done that. It’s awesome. The people who work here, who I have a relationship with who have seen me since I was a kid – it’s amazing to be able to get that much recognition over and over. It never gets old.
Where are you guys as a team? We’ve got another test against Miami to close out this road trip. We’re focused on that.
JAKOB POELTL (four points, 10 rebounds, two blocks)
What do you think of the leap Pascal has made this season? I wouldn’t say it’s surprising. I’d say it’s impressive. We played so much together. We practiced so much together, I feel like we know each other’s games so well and we always knew that all of us had it in us to make that next step. Pascal is the first one to really, really leap with out there. The season he is having this season is amazing, honestly.
On DeMar DeRozan’s performance… I think it means a lot to him to come back to Toronto and get a win. Last year we were really close, but we ended up losing a really close game. This year it was a really close game again, but we ended up winning. Sometimes it comes down to one or two baskets made. It’s a tough game. Today we hung in there and we pulled it out.
What effect did the zone have in the second half? It definitely slowed them down. They got a little stagnant on offense, which is exactly what we wanted them to do. Maybe make them overthink it a little bit, pack the paint, make them shoot contested shots and they started missing them. We started getting easy transition baskets out of it and that really got us going.
LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE (11 points, four rebounds, four assists)
What’s the mindset when you fall behind like that? You just have to stick with it and put some plays together. You have to keep playing and don’t give in. Our second unit was quick and bringing energy and making plays for us. I thought they got us back into it and then DeMar got going down the stretch. It was just a perfect way to end the game.
On DeMar DeRozan’s game… He’s a great teammate. He’s very unselfish and wants to win. He plays the right way. I was happy to see him have that video tribute. I feel like he played his heart out. He gave everything he had to this city. I think he honestly deserves it. For him to come back here and play great and to get a win feels good.
How big will a win be in Miami to finish this trip? It’s huge. We’ve had some big wins and one tough loss. It’s going to be great to go in there and handle business. If we can get that one then this road trip will be a really good one.
The view from left field 