Nurse: Anunoby ‘gonna sleep well’ after defending, outscoring Luka

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says forward O.G. Anunoby is in for a restful night after defending Luka Doncic in the Raptors’ 105-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday.

“I think he’s gonna sleep well tonight,” Nurse said about Anunoby, according to TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.

Anunoby played all 24 minutes of the second half and was the primary defender tasked with guarding Doncic. The Mavericks star finished with just 24 points, 10 shy of his season average – which leads the NBA. Anunoby himself scored 26 and racked up nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks.

For his part, Doncic had nothing but praise for the Raptors forward after the game.

“He’s an amazing player, and I would say on both ends,” Doncic said of Anunoby, courtesy of Adam Laskaris of Daily Hive.

Anunoby leads the league in steals, averaging a career-high 2.4 per game. He’s often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player, as he did against Doncic.

On the offensive end, the sixth-year forward is scoring 18.9 points per game, another career high. He’s helped the Raptors to a 5-5 record in the absence of Pascal Siakam after Toronto’s star suffered a groin injury on Nov. 4 against the Mavericks. Anunoby has boosted his scoring average to 22 points per contest with Siakam out of the lineup.

Anunoby will have two nights of rest before he and the Raptors take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.