Immanuel Quickley paces Raptors past Grizzlies to kick off road trip

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The trade bump experienced by the Raptors carried over into the Home of the Blues, where the hometown Memphis Grizzlies were left singing the blues.

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Everyone knew the Raptors needed a jolt when they returned home last weekend following a loss to the host Detroit Pistons, a team flirting with NBA futility.

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In the first game for the newest Raptors in RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley following their trade from the New York Knicks, each started on New Year’s Day, each having a presence in Toronto’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Quickley began slowly on Wednesday night at FedEx Forum, but he never allowed missed shots to dictate his defensive intensity.

Barrett displayed his overall game as the Raptors won their second in a row 116-111 to tip off a six-game road trip that continues Friday night in Sacramento.

Once they found their bearings, the Raptors were very good and were well-deserving of their victory.

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Suddenly, there’s joy and exuberance in how they play, a togetherness not often seen this season and options with Barrett and Quickley learning how to play better with their new teammates.

On Toronto’s first possession to begin the second half, Quickley buried a three-pointer. Following a stop, Quickley scored on a runner as the Raptors increased their lead to 17 points, which would swell to 20 following a Memphis turnover.

Rookie head coach Darko Rajakovic, a one-time assistant with the Grizzlies, is not afraid to mix and match his rotations and several interesting groups were concocted in Memphis.

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He’s clearly not reluctant to call a timeout when his team’s defence is compromised. Toronto endured a sloppy stretch of play, allowing the Grizzlies to cut the deficit in half, prompting Rajakovic to call a well-timed timeout.

One of the keys on this night was Toronto’s ability to close out quarters, which they accomplished again in the third by going on a 13-6 run to end the period. Quickley had five three-pointers after three quarters to match a season high he set in the New York Knicks’ season opener against Boston.

With 7:29 remaining, Rajakovic had no other choice but to call a timeout as Memphis made it a 10-point game following an 8-0 run. It would shrink to seven and then six with 4:21 to go. For the first time all night, the Raptors looked disjointed.

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Quickley calmed the team down when he took advantage of a mismatch on the perimeter, attacked the rim and went to the line when he was fouled. He converted on both of his free throws, but credit Memphis for refusing to throw in the towel in making it a five-point game with 1:15 remaining.

When Pascal Siakam got into foul trouble, Rajakovic managed his minutes well and had him on the floor in the fourth quarter with Siakam having five fouls.

Quickley led the Raptors in scoring by pouring in 26.

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Some of the best basketball played by the Raptors arrived late in the second quarter. Defensively, they were contesting shots and controlling every miss. As a result, they were able to get out in transition.

When pull-up opportunities weren’t available, the Raptors’ ball movement was very efficient, allowing the visitors to go on an 11-0 run. Quickley struggled with his offence, but he did nail two three-pointers during the stretch, including one possession when he turned into a one-man break.

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Another catalyst would be Jakob Poeltl, who had one of his finest outings of the season.

The opening half ended on a well-designed side-out-of-bounds play that led to a basket as the Raptors took a 62-48 advantage into intermission, featuring the visitors going on a 15-2 run to close out the quarter.

JA BREAKER

It was the first look at Ja Morant for the Raptors this season and the visitors weren’t very good in defending the electric point guard.

When the night started, Quickley had the difficult task of trying to contain Morant.

Defences must be careful not to get up on Morant, knowing all he needs is one dribble before he aggressively attacks the basket.

At least to begin the game, the Raptors were far too respectful by playing off Morant. Following an uncontested three from the top of the circle that Morant easily buried, the Raptors were forced to call a timeout and would revisit how to defend Morant, who had a game-high 28 points.

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Toronto went with the same starting lineup it used Monday against visiting Cleveland, which included Barrett and Quickley.

Siakam picked up his second foul midway through the opening period, the second on a charge when he attempted to get to the rim. He stayed in the game and scored seven points in seven minutes by taking only three shots from the field.

NIGHT PORTER

With veteran Otto Porter Jr. (knee) out, two-way player Jontay Porter ushered in his Raptors debut when he entered the game for Poeltl with 2:08 remaining.

The Raptors were trailing by five at the time, but would end the quarter by taking a 30-29 advantage. Porter had an assist and hauled down two rebounds against his former team.

Of note was the decision to play Porter ahead of Chris Boucher. Porter has the size and was out on the perimeter setting screens. Defensively, he was solid in boxing out his man.

Porter heaved a three-pointer about four minutes into the second quarter that wouldn’t drop.

Porter is the younger brother of Michael Porter, who won a ring with the Denver Nuggets last season.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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