TORONTO – In a career-best offensive night time, Jared Rhoden was nonetheless centered on what he had achieved defensively.
Rhoden hit new highs with 25 factors and 12 rebounds to guide the Toronto Raptors to a 118-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday for the primary double-double of his NBA profession. However it was his 4 steals — additionally a profession excessive — that he stated was essentially the most memorable a part of his night time.
“I feel that’s one thing that I actually take delight in, one thing that I look to the sport to see how I affected the sport,” stated Rhoden. “That’s going to be my calling card within the NBA.
“I may rating as many factors as I need, however I do know that to ensure that me to maintain myself, I’ve to play defence.”
Making a reputation for himself is what Rhoden — and virtually all of his Raptors teammates — had been making an attempt to do in opposition to the Sixers.
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The 2 groups had a mixed 17 gamers unavailable to play. That included 4 of Toronto’s normal starters with Immanuel Quickley (relaxation), RJ Barrett (private causes) of Mississauga, Ont., Scottie Barnes (sprained finger on proper hand), and Gradey Dick (proper knee bone bruise) all out.
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A complete of 9 Raptors had been inactive for the sport.
Put extra succinctly, the one gamers that stepped on the court docket for Toronto on Wednesday with greater than 100 NBA video games below their belts had been centre Jakob Poeltl and backup ahead Garrett Temple. Everybody else was a rookie, on a two-way deal, or a 10-day contract.
“Folks at all times say the NBA is about alternatives, it’s by no means in regards to the expertise,” stated Rhoden. “I feel what you’re seeing now could be, what persons are able to doing once they get alternatives, and that’s what the NBA is all about, and it’s the way you capitalize on these possibilities.”
Orlando Robinson, on a two-way, had a career-high 25 factors and matched his career-best with 12 rebounds. Colin Castleton, on a 10-day deal, had a career-high 14 rebounds and 7 factors.
A.J. Lawson of Brampton, Ont., additionally on a two-way, had 28 factors a sport after scoring a career-high 32.
“I haven’t seen that earlier than and it is extremely particular,” stated head coach Darko Rajakovic on the spectacular play of Toronto’s depth gamers. “It simply exhibits what a terrific job the entrance workplace is doing of bringing these guys on and our (G-League’s Raptors) 905 bringing guys there, getting them included within the system.
“You then see these guys step on the ground and contribute to that.”
Robinson has additionally performed for the Miami Warmth group and the Sacramento Kings and their G-League membership.
“It’s all in regards to the state of affairs,” stated Robinson. “Then when you get the chance, it’s as much as you to benefit from that chance.
“Guys like A.J., myself and JR, that’s what we’re doing, making the most of the chance so that you simply don’t sleep on us.”
Toronto’s win put Philadelphia half a sport behind the Raptors within the standings. That provides the 76ers the fifth-best odds within the upcoming NBA Draft lottery.
The Raptors have the seventh-worst document within the NBA, with a 31.9 per cent probability of getting a top-four decide on this summer time’s draft and a 7.5 per cent probability on the first general choice.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed March 12, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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