Raptors secure Summer League semifinal berth

Collin Murray-Boyles’ best performance so far helps lift Raptors to a dominant win over Golden State

The Toronto Raptors’ fourth Summer League matchup had them toe-to-toe with the Golden State Warriors. With the Summer League Championship playoff on the line, the Raptors showed up and delivered. With a 81-69 win, they will now advance to the semifinals.

This was a game of defence and grittiness, with both teams showing a high level of effort on that end of the floor. In the first half alone, there were 30 fouls, with the whistle sounding often to try and slow some of the physicality in this contest.

The incentive for the defensive effort was clear, as both teams struggled shooting. Toronto finished with 32.5% from the field and 14.3% from long range while Golden State’s numbers were 32.8% and 27.6% respectively. Transition scoring was vital for both teams, leading to a frenetic pace for much of the game when it wasn’t paused by free throws.

Despite Jonathan Mogbo being scratched from this game due to a right hand sprain, his presence on the bench was felt, often on his feet and encouraging the Raptors’ aggressive defence and rim-rattling dunks. He captained the energy on the bench that continues to go all out to support their squad.

There was plenty to celebrate. Collin Murray-Boyles really came alive tonight, doing everything the Raptors needed. Jamison Battle had a strong performance with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 stocks. Alijah Martin bounced back as well to finish with 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. A.J. Lawson, who has arguably been one of the best players in Summer League, once again did a little bit of everything: 12 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

For the Warriors, Alex Toohey had a strong and versatile performance, ending with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Chris Manon led Golden state, scoring 14 points to go along with 9 rebounds. They split their first four games, taking themselves out of contention but will still play a fifth game based on their position in the standings.

Although it wasn’t a pretty game, there are three big takeaways from this one:

• Collin Murray-Boyles had his best game so far as a Raptor as he continues to adjust to the NBA level. He was virtually single-handedly keeping the Raptors in the game at times. In the first half he was the only player to be able to consistently score. In the third quarter, he helped trigger a 8-point Raptors run through forced turnovers, offensive rebounding, and decisive scoring that helped build momentum. His former coach from South Carolina, Lamont Paris, joined the broadcast to reiterate everything that has been said about CMB since the draft. He spoke specifically about Collin’s basketball IQ and defence, both of which were on full display tonight. At the buzzer, he led all scorers with 20 points. Along with that, he had 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals.

• Now that the defensive system and identity seems to be working for the Raptors, it’s time they start to hone their offensive skills. It’s remarkable that they were kept in this game at all with their shooting struggles. They relied heavily on momentum swings and stretches where they were able to score off turnovers and in transition, but not reliably against a set defence. This has been the theme for a while now, often resorting to isolation plays that make the drought worse. They play their best when the ball is moving, guys are cutting, and they’re finding the best shot. There were flashes, but I’d like to see this development continue.

• The Raptors have done it! They’re heading to the semifinals on Saturday. Not only that, but their point differential has placed them as the #1 seed. Before Summer League even started it was almost consensus that the Raptors were sending a stacked roster with lots of previous NBA talent to Las Vegas. They really showed up, making things miserable for every team they faced.

Tune in on Saturday to watch as the Raptors go to the semis, now one win away from the Summer League Championship.