Toronto rookie Jamison Battle received a loud ovation from the rest of the Raptors fans after fouling out with less than 15 minutes to play at Scotiabank Arena on Friday.
The gesture wasn’t cynical, but it was a tribute to the Raptors bench that included him and three other rookies in a 115-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Battle had 12 points and six rebounds and was ejected from the game after picking up his sixth foul.
“It felt good to know that I could contribute to the team’s victory,” Battle said of the applause. “That’s all I really care about, just coming here and doing what I can to help this team win.”
Battle and the rest of Toronto’s reserves were called up to help a rotation that was significantly thinned by injuries.
Coach Darko Rajkovic said before the game that point guard Emmanuel Quickley (right hip contusion) would be sidelined. Quickley is listed as inactive along with RJ Barrett (shoulder sprain) of Mississauga, Ont., Kelly Olynyk (back) of Kamloops, B.C., Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Ja’Kobe Walter (sprained shoulder) .
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Officials also ejected both teams’ starting pitchers from the game, calling 66 personal fouls. Both teams made more free throws than field goals, with the Raptors going 46-of-39 (84.8%) from the charity stripe and Philadelphia going 40-of-53 (75.5%).
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Starting pitchers Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick and Davion Mitchell all got into foul trouble as they attempted to crush the Sixers’ offense.
Toronto’s bench stepped up in their absence and outscored Philly’s reserves 41-19.
“We’re a team and that’s why we wear the hat,” said Battle, who was playing in only his second NBA game. “This is what our identity should be. We have to be ahead of the other teams.
“We might not have the most talent in the room, but we have a lot of guys that can be really scary when you get them together with five guys connected on the court.”
Dick and Mitchell also fouled out, and Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo (two of Toronto’s four picks in last summer’s NBA draft) each played more than 23 minutes.
“I think everyone on the bench is ready to have their name called,” said Mogbo, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes. “I think we did a great job as a team.
“Everyone was ready to play tonight.”
Razakovic said they worked hard to build a bond during the offseason and it paid off Friday because everyone was on board.
“We had a lot of guys that we didn’t plan on having in the rotation but ended up breaking the rotation and helping the team,” he said. “We are a team that works together.
“I told them we outplayed them tonight and that’s one of the things I’m proud of.”
Even as the 76ers threatened to force the game to a close tie, many fans left the stadium early, taking the Gardiner Highway, which was closed an hour after the final whistle for construction along Toronto’s lakefront, which runs next to Scotiabank Arena.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
