Christian Koloko, OG Anunoby look sharp in Raptors’ opening night victory
Koloko #Koloko
The Raptors wasted no time finding out what they have in rookie centre Christian Koloko.
With coach Nick Nurse staying true to a pre-game statement he’d mix and match his lineups to see what might work best, Koloko logged far more time than expected in Toronto’s 108-105 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
With Cleveland using a big lineup that includes a couple of seven-footers in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, Koloko played 15 minutes and was the first big man off the bench in the second half.
He acquitted himself well — three points and six rebounds — and will surely gain more of Nurse’s confidence, at least until the injured Chris Boucher gets back. That Koloko came off the bench ahead of Thad Young in the first half and before Precious Achiuwa in the second is a testament to Nurse’s confidence and the matchup Cleveland presented.
“I always throw out 20 games (when) we’ll probably be tinkering around with some things,” Nurse said. “Some of it will be good, some of it we’ll learn a lot.
“I think that’s important for this team: What are the groups that are going to look (good) together going to be? That’s going to take a little time to figure out.”
It’ll get easier when Boucher and Otto Porter Jr, assume their spots in the rotation as Nurse rolled with nine players on opening night.
Filling the sheet
OG Anunoby had a wonderful all-around game with 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocked shots and two steals.
His two biggest plays were an excellent drop-off pass for a Scottie Barnes basket and a bucket of his own that put Toronto ahead for good with about two minutes left.
All five Raptors starters were in double figures — Pascal Siakam had 23 points — and Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 31. The Cavaliers lost all-star guard Darius Garland to an eye injury after he played just 14 minutes.
Bookkeeping done
The Raptors took care of some contractual minutia early Wednesday when they picked up the rookie 2023-24 contact options on Scottie Barnes (third season), Precious Achiuwa (fourth season) and Malachi Flynn (fourth season).
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