The Toronto Raptors are back in action Wednesday night as they take to the road for a meeting against the Charlotte Hornets.
Watch the Raptors visit the Hornets LIVE Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on TSN1/4, TSN.ca, and the TSN App.
Toronto (22-15) comes into the matchup on the heels of back-to-back wins over the Atlanta Hawks to open the new year, and are now just 1.5 games back of the New York Knicks for third place in the Eastern Conference.
Rookie Collin Murray-Boyles got the start for the second straight game in place of the injured centre Jakob Poeltl on Monday, and broke out with 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while adding three steals and two blocks on the defensive end in the 118-100 victory.
Scottie Barnes recorded his 18th double-double of the season in Monday’s win with 18 points and 10 rebounds across a team-high 36 minutes of action to help sweep the season series against the Hawks.
“[We’re] just playing the right way, being in the right spots.” Barnes told TSN’s Kayla Grey following the victory over Atlanta. “Trying to keep everything controlled. My teammates do a great job of cutting, knocking down shots, and being in the right place at the right time.”
Seven Raptors players reached double digits in scoring as part of a balanced offensive attack in Monday’s game as Toronto closed out a five-game homestand with a 4-1 record.
“We’ve got a really talented roster,” Barnes added. “Our bench guys help us every single game, and we need them every single game. They come out here and perform, they pick us up when we’re down.
“They guard, give us energy, pick up full court. They do so much for us. They need to get more recognition as well. Everybody does their job and when that happens, we come out with a [win].”
The Raptors now embark on a quick two-game road trip, beginning with Wednesday’s matchup against the Hornets.
Charlotte (13-23) is currently 3.0 games back of the final play-in spot in the East, but are coming off of an unlikely rout of the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.
Third-year forward Brandon Miller led the way with 28 points in the 124-97 win, while standout rookie Kon Knueppel poured in 23 of his own on 61.5 per cent shooting.
The Hornets managed to keep the defending NBA champions to under 100 points for the first time all season, and will look to carry that momentum into Wednesday’s Eastern Conference clash against the Raptors.
Poeltl is the only player listed on Toronto’s injury report for the game against Charlotte, and is now set to miss his eighth straight contest with a lower-back injury.
While the Austrian big-man remains out, head coach Darko Rajakovic announced that Poeltl had recently been cleared for contact, a positive sign that the starting centre could be inching towards a return to the lineup.
For Charlotte, Mason Plumlee (groin) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) will join Grant Williams (ACL) on the sidelines on Wednesday.
