The Orlando Magic selected versatile Duke forward Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick, the Oklahoma City Thunder selected Gonzaga’ s Chet Holmgren second, and the Houston Rockets rounded out their young Big 3 with the third pick, drafting Auburn’ s Jabari Smith Jr. Banchero, a forward ESPN likened to both Ben Simmons and Michael Beasley, joins Cole Anthony, Franz…
The 2022 NBA Draft made the Magic, Thunder and Rockets all winners — Boston Herald
The Heat are often trying to get as good as they can as quickly as they can.
Heat gain pick-trade and luxury-tax flexibility in trade with Thunder — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
GAME #53 – TORONTO RAPTORS (29-23) at OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (17–36)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022 – 8 P.M. (ET) – PAYCOM CENTER
TV: SPORTSNET – RADIO: TSN 1050 TORONTO
• The Toronto Raptors (29-23) continue a three-game road trip (Feb. 7-10) Wednesday night when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (17-36). The Raptors have won a season high-tying six straight games (Jan. 29 – Feb. 7) – tied with Boston for the longest active winning streak in the Eastern Conference. Toronto also won six in a row Dec. 31 – Jan. 9. The Raptors’ next five games (Feb. 9-16) leading into the All-Star break will all be against Western Conference opponents – Toronto is 8-9 vs. the West this season.
• Pascal Siakam has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (Week 16: Jan. 31 – Feb. 6) for the fourth time in his career. Siakam led the Raptors to four wins in five days last week, averaging 24.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 40.1 minutes. He scored 25+ points in three-of-four games and
recorded two double-doubles. Siakam tied a season high with 33 points Feb. 4 vs. Atlanta.
• Pascal Siakam and Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points apiece, and OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet eeach had 20, as the Raptors beat Charlotte 116-101 on Monday night for their sixth straight victory. Toronto improved to 3-1 this season when it has four 20-point scorers.
• The Raptors have won a season high-tying six straight games (Jan. 29 – Feb. 7). Toronto is averaging 118.0 points and shooting .467 (259-555) from the field, including .449 (92-205) from three-point distance, during this stretch. All five Raptors starters are averaging 15+ points over the last six and have combined to average 102.0 points – Gary Trent Jr. (26.0), Pascal Siakam (24.0), Fred VanVleet (20.5), OG Anunoby (16.2) and Scottie Barnes (15.3).
• Pascal Siakam is currently averaging 21.5 points, and career highs of 8.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists, in 39 games this season. He is one of just five players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, James Harden, and Nikola Jokic. Siakam has also already tallied 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists eight times, tying the single-season franchise record set by Chris Bosh during the 2008-09 campaign.
• Fred VanVleet has been named a reserve for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 20 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland. VanVleet becomes just the eighth player in franchise history to earn an All-Star selection. He is the first undrafted player in the NBA to be named an
All-Star since Ben Wallace in 2006. VanVleet signed with Toronto as a free agent in the summer of 2016.
• Sophomore Precious Achiuwa and rookie Scottie Barnes have been selected to participate in the 2022 Rising Stars, which will be played on Friday, Feb. 18 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland as part of NBA All-Star 2022. Toronto will have two players in the showcase event for the first time since Andrea
Bargnani and Jamario Moon in 2008.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 36.1 REB: 7.8 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 14.8
• Contributed 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in 31 minutes Feb. 7 at Charlotte.
• Leads all rookies in minutes (36.1), ranks second in rebounds (7.8) and fourth in points (14.8).
• Has scored 20+ points in 10 games – the most by a Raptors rookie since Charlie Villanueva (12) in 2005-06.
F – OG ANUNOBY #3
MIN: 37.2 REB: 5.6 AST: 2.7 STL: 1.7 TO: 1.8 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 18.5
• Finished with 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals in 38 minutes Feb. 7 at Charlotte.
• Has scored 20+ points in a single-season career-high 18 games; something he did 13 times last season.
• Averaging 19.6 points in 17 road games, compared to 17.5 points in 20 contests at home.
C – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 37.9 REB: 8.7 AST: 5.2 STL: 1.3 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 21.5
• Recorded his team-leading 16th double-double with 24 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists Feb. 7 at Charlotte.
• Averaging 24.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists over the last six games (Jan. 29 – Feb. 4).
• Leads the Raptors with 16 double-doubles, including four in the last six games.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.8 REB: 2.7 AST: 2.0 STL: 1.8 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.3
• Scored 24 points Feb. 7 at Charlotte; added three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 34 minutes.
• Ranks third in the NBA in steals per game (1.84) and eighth in total deflections (142).
• Averaging a team-high 24.6 points and shooting .480 (48-100) from three-point range over the last 10 games.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 38.6 REB: 4.7 AST: 7.1 STL: 1.7 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 21.6
• Tallied 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes of action Feb. 7 at Charlotte.
• Ranks second in the NBA in total deflections (183), second in three-pointers (185) and sixth in steals (78).
• Has scored 20+ points in four consecutive games (Feb. 1-7), averaging 22.0 points during this streak.
INJURY REPORT
Isaac Bonga (G League – On Assignment ) – Out
Justin Champagnie (G League – Two-Way) – Out
Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out
David Johnson (G League – Two-Way) – Out
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 29-23 21-14 8-9
HOME 16-12 10-7 6-5
AWAY 13-11 11-7 2-4
OVERTIME 2-1 2-1 0-0
NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Houston Rockets
Date: Thursday, February 10
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Toyota Center
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. HOUSTON
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2020-21 1-1 1-0 0-1
ALL-TIME 21-29 16-9 5-20
STREAKS Lost 1 Won 1 Lost 2
LAST WIN: Feb. 26, 2021 (122-111)
LAST ROAD WIN: Nov. 14, 2017 (129-113)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +21 (Jan. 2, 2009)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -30 (Nov. 20, 1997)
LAST TIME VS. HOUSTON
GAME 43 – MARCH 22, 2021
HOUSTON 117, TORONTO 99
HOUSTON — The Houston Rockets ended their 20-game losing streak,
as John Wall had his first triple-double in five years in a 117-99 victory
over the Toronto Raptors … Houston’s skid was tied for the ninth-worst in
NBA history and the longest since Philadelphia’s record-setting, 28-game
losing streak across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons … But Wall had
19 points, 10 assists and 11 rebounds, his first triple-double since Feb. 5,
2016 … That helped the Rockets got their first win since Feb. 4 … Houston also handed the Raptors their ninth straight loss, which now represents the NBA’s longest active losing streak … All five Houston starters
scored in double figures by midway through the third quarter … Jae’Sean
Tate had 22 points, Sterling Brown added 20, Christian Wood scored 19
and Danuel House Jr. added 12 … Houston closed out the third quarter
with an 88-86 lead and opened the fourth quarter on a 9-1 run to pull
away … The Rockets led 65-60 at halftime after a 51-footer at the buzzer
by House, who heaved the shot from well behind the half-court line near
the Raptors bench on the sideline … Fred VanVleet led Toronto with 27
points … Pascal Siakam scored 21 points, Normal Powell had 19 and
Kyle Lowry added 17 … Brown made his first five shots, including three
3s, for 13 first-quarter points … He finished 7 of 10 and 4 of 7 from 3 …
The Raptors led 28-27 at the end of the first quarter … DeAndre’ Bembry
was ejected from the game after receiving two back-to-back technical
fouls in the fourth quarter.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 28 32 26 13 99
HOUSTON 27 38 23 29 117
Welcome to the Josh Giddey show.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out until after All-Star break with ankle sprain — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
Is that worthy of an ejection?
Watch Thunder’s Dort get ejected for elbow to Kevin Love — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
No punches were landed, but teammates had to separate them.
Wizards’ Harrell, Caldwell-Pope reportedly fought during halftime of win over Thunder — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
The Thunder have mastered stockpiling draft picks while rebuilding.
In Jazz trade, Thunder get another (absurdly cheap) draft pick — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
LaMelo Ball had set the record last year.
Watch Thunder’s Josh Giddey become youngest in NBA history to get triple-double — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
• The Toronto Raptors (11-13) continue a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28 – Dec. 13)
Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder (7-16) at Scotiabank Arena. The Raptors have won
back-to-back games (Dec. 2-5) for the first time since a five-game winning streak Oct. 27 – Nov. 3. Toronto
is 2-2 on its current homestand. Toronto and Oklahoma City split the season-series in 2020-21 with the
home team winning both meetings. Gary Trent Jr. averaged 31.0 points against the Thunder last season.
• The Raptors held Washington to just 90 points in Sunday’s victory. Toronto has now held its opponent to
fewer than 100 points in three straight games (Nov. 30 – Dec. 5) for the first time since a four game streak
Dec. 28, 2019 – Jan. 2, 2020. Over the last three games, opponents are averaging 93.7 points and shooting 39 percent (98-251) from the field, including .322 (29-90) from three-point range.
• Scottie Barnes currently leads all rookies in points (15.1) and minutes (35.6), and ranks second in rebounds
(8.0) and field goal percentage (.489). Barnes is shooting .448 (13-29) from three-point range over the last seven
games (Nov. 21 – Dec. 5) after shooting .154 (2-13) from beyond the arc in his first 15 games.
• Pascal Siakam scored 24 of his game-high 31 points in the first half Sunday against the Wizards. Siakam
poured in 17 points in the second quarter and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field. He has now scored 20+
points in three straight games (Nov. 30 – Dec. 5), averaging 23.7 points. Siakam is shooting .483 (28-58)
from the floor and .800 (12-15) at the free throw line over the last three.
• Precious Achiuwa recorded his team-leading fourth double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, one
shy of his career high, in Sunday’s win vs. Washington. Achiuwa has hauled down 22 rebounds in the last
two games, including nine on the offensive glass. He currently leads all sophomores in rebounding (8.2).
• Dalano Banton led the team in assists for the first time in his career with six in 15 minutes off the bench
Dec. 5 vs. Washington. Banton added five points and had zero turnovers against the Wizards.
• Fred VanVleet (83) and Gary Trent Jr. (83) are currently tied for third in the NBA in deflections. VanVleet
has led the league in deflections per game each of the past two seasons. Trent Jr. is also tied for fourth in
the NBA in steals per game (2.00) and has recorded multiple steals in 13-of-21 games. The Raptors lead
the NBA in deflections per game (19.5) and rank third in steals (9.3).
• Goran Dragic is currently taking time away from the team for a personal matter. There is no definite time-line, and updates will be provided as appropriate. Dragic is averaging 8.0 points in five games this season.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.6 REB: 8.0 AST: 3.2 STL: 1.2 TO: 2.0 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 15.1
• Recorded 11 points, six rebounds and one assist in 37 minutes of action Dec. 5 vs. Washington.
• Has scored in double figures in seven straight games (Nov. 21 – Dec. 5), averaging 15.4 points during this stretch.
• Leads all rookies in points (15.1) and minutes (35.6), and ranks second in rebounds (8.0) and FG pct. (.489).
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 33.4 REB: 7.1 AST: 3.7 STL: 0.7 TO: 2.2 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 19.1
• Scored 24 of his game-high 31 points in the first half Dec. 5 vs. Washington; added six rebounds in 36 minutes.
• Has scored in 20+ points in three consecutive games (Nov. 30 – Dec. 5), averaging 23.7 points during this span.
• Needs 13 points to reach 5,000 for his career; will become ninth player in franchise history to reach milestone.
.
C – PRECIOUS ACHIUWA #5
MIN: 26.5 REB: 8.2 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.0
• Tallied 10 points and 14 rebounds, one shy of his career high, in 31 minutes Dec. 5 vs. Washington.
• Leads the team with four double-doubles; had three in 61 games as a rookie with Miami last season.
• In 17 starts, averaging 7.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 26.7 minutes.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.2 REB: 3.3 AST: 1.8 STL: 2.0 TO: 0.9 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 16.4
• Contributed six points, four rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes Dec. 5 vs. Washington.
• Tied for fourth in the NBA in steals per game (2.00); has recorded multiple steals in 13 games.
• Averaging 18.8 points on the road this season, compared to 13.5 points at home.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 38.1 REB: 5.0 AST: 6.1 STL: 1.5 TO: 3.2 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 19.8
• Finished with 10 points and four assists in 33 minutes Dec. 5 vs. Washington.
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.1), has logged 40+ minutes in six games.
• Has scored in double digits in all 23 of his games played this season, including 20+ points 10 times.
INJURY REPORT
OG Anunoby (Left Hip; Pointer) – Out
Khem Birch (Right Knee; Swelling) – Out
Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out
DETROIT (AP) — Shea Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 13 assists, Luguentz Dort scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied past the Detroit Pistons 114-103 Monday night in a battle of teams that entered with eight-game losing streaks.
Pistons blow 16-point second half lead, fall to Thunder — Daily Tribune
This time when their lead hit 19 points the Celtics momentarily accelerated, though with a few potholes getting in the way, they clearly still need to work on a closing act. After hitting a peak lead of 25 points, shooting a withering 17-for-39 (43.6%) from 3-point range, and surviving a Thunder rally in the fourth…
Celtics go downtown on Thunder, 111-105 — Boston Herald
Curry shot 14 of 26 overall and 11 of 21 beyond the arc.
Watch Stephen Curry drain 11 3s, scores 49 points, lift Warriors to win — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
The view from left field 