Raptors hold out to win second Summer League matchup

The debut of Collin Murray-Boyles didn’t disappoint as he joins the Raptors’ suffocating defence to deliver a victory

The Toronto Raptors continue to roll through Summer League with another win, this time dispatching the Orlando Magic 89-86. For the second time in a row, their defensive pressure won them the game, combined with strong scoring performances from A.J. Lawson, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead, Jonathan Mogbo, and Ulrich Chomche who all scored in double figures. Orlando put up a fight, but ultimately they weren’t able to overcome Toronto’s aggression.

Despite being down early, the Raptors were able to work their way back into contention and then build a lead, one play after another. Each possession was fought for and earned, with bodies flying across the floor in an effort to get the ball. Orlando struggled to find an answer. Their offence looked disjointed, leading to turnovers, scoring droughts, and a visible frustration.

Although they fall to 0-2 with this loss, the Magic had strong performances from a number of their players. Jase Richardson, their first round pick, finished with 19-2-4 and 2 blocks. He showed a lot of versatility and strength, and will undoubtedly find a role within Orlando’s organization. Noah Penda, a second round pick that the Magic traded up for also had a solid performance, especially on the boards. He ended with 9 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and a block. Wendell Moore Jr. and Tristan Da Silva also had a solid game, but boast previous NBA experience.

Toronto will keep their Summer League playoff dreams alive, especially with their ability to navigate a tight game where every point matters. Defence is obviously important, but needing to score in late game situations has been a struggle for Toronto over the last couple years and it was nice to see the young guys hold out for the win.

While there was plenty of solid takeaways from this game, there’s three major ones we get from this one:

• Defence is everything to this team. I’ve said it before, but it’s impossible to undersell the importance of engagement, especially from the bench. Lockdown defence had everyone on their feet and cheering. The buy-in from the players on the floor as a result was palpable. It created so many extra opportunities and drove their offence, as Orlando committed 29 turnovers. Toronto was able to capitalize and score in transition as a result. In a game that was determined by a single possession, those extra opportunities were crucial for the Raptors.

• Ja’Kobe’s ceiling seems to be getting even higher. His rookie year was shortened due to injury so we weren’t able to get a full picture of his abilities during the season, but his midrange game and 3-point shooting were the first hints. Already he’s shown comfort attacking closeouts and taking the ball to the rim. He’s said to have gained 12 pounds of muscle in the offseason already, and that seems to have helped him with both of those things. What hasn’t changed is his willingness to take tough shots, even at the buzzer. Late in the game he showed a lot of grit defensively and then the certainty in his scoring ability to take shots. While it was a team effort, it’s hard not to feel like he kept them in this game. His confidence and diversified skill set on offence is going to be crucial for the Raptors moving forward.

• Collin Murray-Boyles finally made his debut and it didn’t disappoint. It’s tough not to have really high expectations, especially for a lottery pick, but overall he put together a solid performance. Yes, there were mistakes. He struggled with turnovers, committing 5, but made up for it with a big block, 3 steals, 8 points, and 7 rebounds. He showed a lot of activity off the ball, moving to get open and create space. He is big, physical, and strong, and fits the defensive mold of Toronto. He has fast hands and is fearless at that end of the floor. Already he seems to be exactly what the Raptors were looking for.

The Raptors will try to keep the winning streak going as they face the Denver Nuggets at 8pm ET on Tuesday, July 15.