Breadcrumb Trail Links
SportsBasketballNBAToronto Raptors
Article content
quartScottie Barnes used the Raptors’ visit to Big D on Sunday night to post his biggest game of the young NBA season, a delightful performance for the fifth-year player.
Advertisement 2
Article content
Barnes was at his best, stepping into threes and draining them, finding teammates or exploiting the Mavericks defence in transition and in the halfcourt. When he buried the first of two free throws with 6:42 left in the game, Barnes had reached the 30-point plateau in becoming the first Raptor three games into the season to hit the number and finished with 33.
Article content
Article content
The host Mavs, however were due for a win following two straight losses during a home-friendly start to the season and pulled away in the third quarter en route to a 139-129 victory. The loss dropped the Raptors to 1-2.
About the only thing the home side could not do was contain Barnes, but one guy isn’t that good to beat one team, even though Barnes did give it his best shot.
Your Midday Sun
Article content
Advertisement 3
Article content
The following are three takeaways from the first night of a back-to-back set for the Raptors, who led by two at the break only to be outscored 39-25 in the fateful third quarter.
1. Flagg Day
The Raptors were given their first look at Cooper Flagg, the NBA’s first overall pick who left Duke following his freshman season.
The Mavs were the beneficiaries of lady luck when they won the lottery months following the club’s controversial trade that sent franchise player Luka Doncic to the L.A. Lakers for Anthony Davis.
Once Kyrie Irving returns from his knee injury, Flagg won’t be asked to handle the ball as much as he has this early into his career.
Once all the pieces are healthy and in sync, the Mavs will pose problems in a very good and very deep Western Conference.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Against the Raptors, Flagg played off the ball.
Remember, the kid doesn’t turn 19 until late December.
Flagg showcased his explosiveness on his first basket when he flushed home a thunderous dunk on a drive.
Flagg has a great feel for the game at both ends of the floor. He’s not a true point guard, but does handle the ball well and understands how to set up his teammates.
He had 22 points Sunday night.
2. CMB’s Debut
First-round pick (ninth overall) Collin Murray-Boyles emerged as the Raptors’ first reserve to enter the game when he checked in for Barnes with 7:14 remaining in the first quarter.
He got quickly matched up against Flagg, who used a nice up and under move to score his second basket.
Murray-Boyles played two minutes before he was back on the bench, picking up one foul with a minus-4 rating. He looked lost, which was expected. At least he got his feet wet, even though he should not have left his feet on Flagg’s move near the basket.
Advertisement 5
Article content
The kid missed the opening two games of the season because of a right forearm strain.
In the second quarter, he set a solid down screen along the left baseline that allowed Ingram to get free and bury a mid-range jumper.
CMB would later catch a pass from Barnes in transition, but failed to convert at the rim. He tried to save the ball from going out of bounds right in front of the Raptors bench, but it ended up in Flagg’s hands for any basket.
On the final possession of the opening half, Murray-Boyles re-entered the game and guarded Flagg.
Overall, the kid had a rough debut, missing all three of his shots from field and turning the ball over once in 13 minutes.
3. Mamu Knows Best
The way Jakob Poeltl is getting into foul trouble with alarming frequency, it’s a good thing Sandro Mamukelashvili was signed this past off-season.
Advertisement 6
Article content
There’s nothing subtle about his game, but he sure does compete and has shown an offensive versatility that has seen Mamukelashvili score near the rim and knock down three-pointers.
Poeltl fouled out in the season opener before he picked up five fouls, including two early, in Friday night’s home opener. Against the Mavs, Poeltl picked up three fouls in seven minutes.
Mamukelashvili runs the floor well. He scored 13 points in 12 minutes in the opening half, one of three Toronto players to reach double figures.
Mamukelashvili started the second half for Poeltl, who has been battling a back issue.
Mamukelashvili was nowhere near as effective in the second half when Davis began to step up for the Mavs, who were led by his 25 points to complement his team-high 10 rebounds.
Up Next
Raptors’ stay in the Lone Star State takes them to San Antonio for a Monday night tip against the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama. In Sunday’s win over Brooklyn, the French big man scored 31 points, while adding 14 rebounds and six blocks to post his third successive double-double in becoming the first player in league history to score 100 points and record at least 18 blocks in his team’s first three games.
fzicarelli@postmedia.com
Article content
Share this article in your social network
