Morning Coffee - Jan. 9, 2025
First half good, second half crap | Brunson on RJ | Omoruyi, from Orangeville, gets the call
Raptors Takeaways: Another disappointing showing in NYC - Sportsnet
Were this a closer game that game down to a few possessions or late-game execution between those groups, you could chalk it up to the cost of an injury-plagued year and the growing pains in a rebuild. Call it a fun learning night, dust your hands off, get ready to do it all again against another Eastern Conference beast Thursday.
Instead, the Raptors did as they’ve done too often lately, looking overmatched enough to rub the veil of rebuilding threadbare. After a pretty strong first half and a nice response early in the third quarter as things started teetering, the Raptors lost their footing, hung their heads, and saw a superior Knicks team run away with it. The modest 112-98 final comes thanks to Chris Boucher going on an all-time “get-me-out-of-bench-purgatory” three-minute, 10-point, plus-11 run; when the game was over enough for Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau to actually play Tyler Kolek, it was a 26-point hole.
For a while, there were positives to build on.
Immanuel Quickley looked solid, scoring 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and was active enough to finish a bad loss with a plus-7. (Single-game plus-minus is extremely noisy, so I point this out mostly out of respect for Knicks fans who constantly pointed out Quickley’s strong on-offs during his New York tenure.) In the second quarter, Quickley went on a personal 6-0 run, getting to the free-throw line twice, knocking down a pull-up transition three, coming up with a steal, and blocking a Landry Shamet corner three. He’s still figuring out the chemistry with a lineup that played a long stretch of time without him (or any point guard), but it was solid.
Late in that same quarter, the Raptors also forced a pair of shot-clock violations, showing that they can, in fact, defend when they lock in. The starting lineup even won their minutes as a group, allowing a reasonable 31 points in 17 minutes together (an 88-point pace).
Those forward steps were moonwalked back promptly. The Knicks’ familiarity shone through, with plays like Jalen Brunson failing to get a switch on a staggered screen yet seeing Josh Hart peel off for a cut-and-kick to Mikal Bridges for an open corner three. The Raptors’ inattention to detail showed, too, like doubling off Brunson to help on OG Anunoby in an unthreatening elbow post-up position. (The Raptors misapplying their help principles is something Garrett Temple spoke openly with us about on The Raptors Show this week.)
Some of these mistakes are acceptable if they’re accompanied by 48 minutes of effort and intensity. That wasn’t the case here, with a healthy and decently rested Raptors team playing hard for a half and then losing the rope once again. I feel like a broken record noting the difference between competitive losses with positive developmental signs versus getting run off the floor and looking disinterested; Wednesday we got a look at both, half-to-half, just in case the contrast wasn’t obvious enough yet.
The Raptors’ newly formed starting unit is still searching for what works - Raptors Republic
Much of the Raptors’ offence didn’t come from the aesthetically pleasing yet often ineffective basketball that Darko Rajaković has become known for during his tenure in Toronto. Quickley’s first two 3s came in transition. First, he spaced to the corner off an RJ Barrett steal for an open look. Next, he drilled a pull-up from the top of the floor, an aspect of the game the Raptors were almost entirely devoid of in his absence. Quickley popped another pull-up – this time coming off a ball-screen – to start the fourth. He led the Raptors with 22 points on 7-of-12 from the floor, 3-of-6 from 3, and added five assists.
Barrett mostly had to work his own way to the rim, rather than having the Raptors motion offence do the work to open up driving lanes for him. Barnes did his fair share of backing down defenders on isolations and hitting his patented turn-around. The 2024 All-Star had 18 points, five rebounds, and five assists and Barrett finished 16 points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Alternatively, the Knicks’ starting unit is well established.
Townes started to have his way as the game progressed, scoring nine of the Knicks 11 points to start the second quarter. He drew fouls with ease and canned a trailer 3 in transition. The Raptors subbed in Poeltl for Olynyk after the first five points but it didn’t help much. The Knicks new big man got switched on to Bruce Brown and took advantage using his combination of strength and finesse to work into the lane and make a pretty floater. The following play Townes picked Poeltl’s pocket at the top of the floor. The two lumbering giants raced the whole way down the floor with KAT narrowly beating Poeltl out and finishing the contested lay as he crashed to the floor.
The game swiftly slipped away in the fourth and the full complement of staters didn’t get a chance to prevent it. Quickley, Brown, Barnes, Olynyk, and Ja’Kobe Walter started the quarter and the Raptors started off 2-of-12 from the floor while the Knicks lead swelled from six to 26. BBQ plus Poeltl and Dick only saw the floor for 1:14 and it was already too late.
Quick Reaction: Raptors 98, Knicks 112 - Raptors Republic
I. Quickley - A-
31 MIN, 22 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 STL, 7-12 FG, 3-6 3FG, 5-6 FT, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 7 +/-
IQ made the Raptors first bucket tonight with a corner three off of a transition feed from RJ Barrett. Quickley had an awesome start to the second quarter with 6 quick points, but was pulled early again just less than 3 minutes into the quarter. Luckily that didn’t ruin Quicks’ momentum and he kept the scoring consistent all night long. Tough loss but it was good to see Quickley score efficiently for the first time since returning from injury.
Knicks 112, Raptors 98: Scenes from a that’s-more-like-it second half - Posting & Toasting
Victory was not assured from the start. Former ‘Bockers RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley accounted for the first seven Raptors points. That gave the visitors a brief lead until Jalen Brunson led a run to catch and overtake them. Jalen would finish the night with 13 points and seven assists. He shot 26% from deep over the past 10 games. True to form, he hit 1-of-4 three-pointers against the Canadians.
Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns, a game-time decision due to knee soreness, limped after a dunk midway through the first frame. A timeout came soon after, but following that, Towns returned to duty. Jericho Sims looked on from the most expensive seats in the house and appeared only during garbage time. We sure hope Karl’s healthy for Friday’s game against the Thunder!
Around then, Josh Hart knocked hips with Jakob Poeltl. Hart retreated to the locker room but returned before the quarter’s end to see the Knicks go ahead, 28-24. During Q2, Towns and Hart hit the floor on drives and persevered through apparent pain. Scottie Barnes led the Raptors on an 11-3 run to nip at the Knicks’ heels. Towns answered with 11 second-quarter points, however, to put the homeboys up 55-51 at halftime (despite the team’s 10 turnovers). On the night, Karl would finish with 27 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, and two assists and blocks. He shot 9-of-14 from the field, and it all three-point attempts in his 34 minutes.
Despite his pain, Hart shot well, converting his first five attempts. Fellow wing, OG Anunoby, shot 34% from deep over the previous 10 games; tonight he hit 3-of-4 from yard in the first half and finished the game 4-of-6 with 27 points (his third-highest total this season). Seems to enjoy sticking it to his old team. Here’s one of his close-range buckets.
Through the half, both sides had nearly identical numbers for shooting percentages, rebounds, assists, points in the paint, turnovers, free throws, fastbreak points, steals, and fouls. So much for dominating cellar dwellers.
In the third quarter, the Knicks mounted a 22-11 run to claim a 15-point advantage. For the Knicks Mikal Bridges unloaded a slew of three-point attempts this evening, going 2-of-11 from downtown and amassing 10 points. For Toronto, Barrett (16 points, five rebounds) and Quickley (22 points, five assists) tried to keep up but were on the wrong end of an 86-76 score by the break.
By halfway through the final frame, the Garden faithful saw the Knicks rattle off a 14-0 run and pull ahead by 25. Josh Hart, recovered from his first quarter collision, added to his total, finishing with a 21-point, 11-board double-double, and a season-high six offensive boards. With about three minutes left and the Knicks up by 26, Thibs relented and emptied the bench, deploying Tyler Kolek, Jacob Toppin, Landry Shamet, Matt Ryan, and Jericho Sims. They surrendered 12 points, but that came too late for the Dinos. Final score, 112-98.
The road trip starts with a bump as Raptors fall in New York 112-98 - Raptors HQ
For Toronto, it was the second game with the full “BBQ” lineup. Scottie finished with 18-5-5 and 4 blocks, Quickley chipped in 22-3-5 and RJ had 16-5-2. It wasn’t enough to power them to the win, but at least they’re healthy, and hopefully can start to build some chemistry.
Ultimately, this is a season of growing pains. With back and forth injuries, there were a lot of different lineups. There were plenty of other issues, but getting used to playing as a unit and then having that unit disrupted again didn’t help the issue. This is apparent now, as Gradey and Ochai seem to be struggling the most, their role having changed now that everyone is healthy.
While it is tough to watch some guys struggle, it is great to have the starting lineup reunited. Seeing them play well together (for part of the game) tonight is even better though, especially on the defensive end. Having their throwback purple jerseys on didn’t hurt either.
OG Anunoby and the Knicks remind the Raptors what they lost - Toronto Star
Anunoby — traded by the Raptors just over a year ago in a blockbuster also featuring Barrett and Quickley — had an excellent night on both ends of the floor and scored 27 points. Karl-Anthony Towns matched that output to go with 13 rebounds.
“They got 15 offensive rebounds (to Toronto’s eight) and that was a huge disparity in this game,” coach Darko Rajakovic said, via TSN.
Quickley finished with 22 points, three rebounds and five assists for the Raptors. Scottie Barnes had 18 points, Barrett 16.
The Raptors also lost to the Knicks twice last month: 139-125 in New York and 113-108 in Toronto.
The Knicks, who just a week ago were riding a nine-game win streak, had piled up three straight losses heading into the night. The Raptors started 2025 on a high note with a win over the Brooklyn Nets to snap an 11-game skid, but have since lost to the Orlando Magic, Milwaukee Bucks and the Knicks.
Injuries aside, the biggest problems have been on the defensive end. Raptors opponents have scored an average of 128.9 points per game over the last seven, the worst such mark in the NBA in that span.
With the starting lineup at full strength for just the second time this season, and Rajakovic able to get more of the matchups he wants, the Raptors managed to keep it close early on, trailing 55-51 at halftime after an 8-0 mini run. But the second half was a different story, and both teams emptied their benches in garbage time.
Toronto committed 16 turnovers, leading to 28 New York points.
“We missed a bunch of open shots and had some turnovers that came from a good place (as) we’re trying to make extra pass to find the open man,” Rajakovic said, via TSN. “We just did not deliver the pass on time and on target.”
Reeling Raptors lose their 14th game in the past 15 as host Knicks add to Toronto's road misery - Toronto Sun
The one concern was Gradey Dick and his shot, which continues to be off.
Adding to the concern list was a back injury suffered to Ochai Agbaji, who has been the only player to appear in all 37 games this season.
Appearing in his 38th game remains an unknown.
The Knicks are known for running their starters into the ground, but they did enter the night having lost three straight.
A fourth successive defeat would be averted following New York’s 112-98 win over the Raptors, who battled and remained in the hunt until their lack of offence did them in.
When Barnes did launch three-pointers, his shot selection was solid.
Former Knicks point guard Immanuel Quickley played with that bounce he showed when he returned from an extended injury absence in helping the Raptors end their 11-game losing slide.
He couldn’t help Toronto’s road record, which dropped to 1-16.
The Raptors had no answer for Karl-Anthony Towns, while OG Anunoby had another solid outing against his former team.
Despite some encouraging signs, and there were a few, Toronto’s on-the-ball defence remains a concern, but its offence, outside of the BBQ trio, needs to improve, which is where Dick has to step up.
Toronto Raptors sign Eugene Omoruyi to 10-day contract - Raptors Republic
The 6-foot-6, 235-pound forward is averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 28.1 minutes throughout the Tip-Off Tournament and regular season with the 905. He’s been super efficient as well, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from distance.
Omoruyi has scored 20 or more points six times, including a season-high 34 points on Dec. 15 against the Maine Celtics.
As for his NBA sample, Omoruyi has spent time with the Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards over his three-year career. Across 87 games, he’s averaged 5.7 points and 2.3 rebounds, while shooting 46.0 percent from the field and 28.5 percent from distance.
Before the NBA, he played three collegiate seasons at Rutgers (2016-19) before transferring to Oregon for his senior year (2020-21) where he earned All-Pac 12 first-team honours.
Omoruyi plays a physical and efficient brand of basketball while never doing too much. He has been one of the 905’s best rebounders and defenders, often taking one of the harder matchups defensively. Offensively, however, his footwork and overall IQ allow him to finish buckets in the paint and has allowed him to shoot nearly 60 percent from the field.
Omoruyi also attended Orangeville Prep in Orangeville, Ontario in high school.
