In a stellar performance Wednesday night, Jonathan Mogbo recorded his first NBA triple-double as a rookie. Scoring 17 points, dishing out a career-high 11 assists, and grabbing 10 rebounds, he was instrumental in leading the Toronto Raptors to a resounding 126-96 win over a depleted Charlotte Hornets squad.
Jared Rhoden also shone brightly with 23 points, contributing significantly to the Raptors’ impressive streak of nine consecutive home victories against the Hornets. Meanwhile, Scottie Barnes added to the effort with 17 points and 11 rebounds, helping the Raptors improve their home record to 18-23.
AJ Lawson’s contribution of 14 points helped the Raptors match their largest win margin this season, reminiscent of their previous 30-point triumph over Brooklyn on March 26.
Despite a strong showing from Nick Smith Jr., who scored 28 points and secured 10 rebounds, and Jusuf Nurkic’s 26 points for Charlotte, the Hornets couldn’t halt their slide. The team has now dropped five consecutive games and seven straight away from home.
Marking a milestone, Taj Gibson played his 1,000th NBA game, contributing two points and five rebounds for Charlotte. Gibson, who started his career with Chicago in the 2009-10 season, continues to add to his veteran experience on the court.
Toronto’s RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley each played 14 minutes in the game’s first half, scoring 11 and 8 points respectively, before taking a breather for the latter part of the contest.
The Hornets battled against a long list of absentees, including Miles Bridges (left hip), Josh Okogie (left hamstring), and Mark Williams (left foot), which left their roster considerably weakened.
For the Raptors, forward Brandon Ingram has been sidelined for the remainder of the season following a platelet-rich plasma injection to treat his injured left ankle, as announced by head coach Darko Rajakovic. Ingram recently consulted with a specialist in New York City.
The turning point in the game came during the third quarter when Barnes and Rhoden combined forces to rack up 18 points, helping Toronto to outscore Charlotte 35-23, which extended their lead to 20 points.
Significantly, the Raptors’ bench made a huge impact by scoring 64 points, which was 44 more than their Hornets counterparts.
Looking forward, both teams will face new challenges on Friday night. Charlotte will travel to Boston, while Toronto heads to Dallas, seeking to build on their recent successes.