NEW ORLEANS — In a resounding victory on Wednesday night, the Toronto Raptors triumphed over the struggling New Orleans Pelicans with a final score of 119-93. This marks the Raptors’ first away win of the season, with Ochai Agbaji and Jamison Battle each contributing 24 points to the team’s success.
D’Jounte Murray made his return to the court after recovering from a fractured left hand that had sidelined him for 17 games. However, he appeared to be out of rhythm at the start, finishing with 14 points yet struggling significantly, missing all seven of his first-half attempts and winding up with a shooting percentage of 5 for 17 overall. This defeat marked the Pelicans’ sixth consecutive loss and their fifteenth loss in the last seventeen games.
CJ McCollum also made a noteworthy return from an adductor strain, scoring 19 points in his second game back after missing 13 games. For the Raptors, RJ Barrett shined with 22 points and 11 assists, while Scottie Barnes added 17 points to the scoreboard. Toronto displayed impressive accuracy from beyond the arc, nailing a season-high 21 three-pointers.
Battle, who had struggled with his three-point shooting earlier this season, found his rhythm against New Orleans, making 6 of 8 attempts after starting out just 3 for 10 on the season.
The Pelicans faced significant challenges, as they were without key players such as Zion Williamson (left hamstring injury), Brandon Ingram (right calf injury), and Herb Jones (right shoulder injury). Additionally, reserve player Trey Murphy III was out due to a left knee bruise. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl provided some effort for New Orleans, ending the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
A major takeaway from the game was Toronto’s impressive performance from the perimeter, as their total of 21 made three-pointers was the highest since January 2021. In contrast, the Pelicans opted for a smaller starting lineup, with 6-foot-11 center Yves Missi being their tallest player. The team struggled from deep, finishing with 11 out of 35 attempts.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when RJ Barrett assisted on an alley-oop layup for Agbaji. He then scored eight consecutive points, including two free throws and three layups, leading to a 16-2 run that significantly extended Toronto’s lead to 79-53.
Toronto’s shooting from beyond the arc was a key factor, as they completed 21 of 52 three-point attempts, resulting in a shooting percentage of 40.4%. This is particularly noteworthy considering they had entered the game ranked last in the NBA with an average of 10.4 three-pointers made per game.
Looking ahead, the Raptors are set to face off against Miami on Friday night, while the Pelicans will be visiting Memphis for their next game.