NBA: New Orleans Hornets trample the Toronto Raptors, 85-81
The New Orleans Hornets scored 85 while reducing the Raptors to 81 at home ground.
Match facts
New Orleans Hornets squished the shorthanded Toronto Raptors in a 85-81 encounter at the New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA on 17 January. The New Orleans Hornets drew out a five-game winning streak by leading in the matchup.
Times are too hard on the Raptors, who are shorthanded with Reggie Evans missing. The player has been out for two months since 2 December, 2010. The Raptors were already short of three players, namely, Evans, Peja Stojakovic and Sonny Weems. During the game,
Leandro Barbosa, Jerryd Bayless and Linas Kleiza also left due to injuries.
Overview
NOH held the opponent team to a score less than 100 to conquer a 15-1 at home. The Oklahoma City Thunder is the only team that reduced the New Orleans Hornets at home on 10 December, 2011, even though the OKC scored less than 100.
Players’ stats
New Orleans Hornets (26-16)
Deron West clinched 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while playing 10-18 from the court. Emeka Okafor grabbed a double-double as the ace pounced 17 points and grabbed 16 rebounds for the leading team. Jarrett Jack added 17 more from off the bench.
The Hornets went for 10 team rebounds.
Toronto Raptors (13-28)
DeMarcus DeRozan clinched 23 points, Amir Johnson scored 17 while Julian Wright, Andrea Bargnani and Ed Davis added 11 to the box score. The team clinched six team rebounds.
Game stats
After shortening the Raptors to 47-42 in rebounds, the Hornets went outscoring them, 19-12 in offensive rebounds as well. The Raptors gave away a large number of turnovers in the clash, 16-10. Toronto fixed 12 fast break points, limiting the leading team
to just eight in the same. The Raptors outscored the Hornets by taking a lead with 12 points, while the Hornets got away with eight. The victors got away with 48 points from the painted area and the Raptors could only make 44.
Turning point
Hornets posted an 83-81 lead over the struggling Raptors with just 31.7 seconds left in the game. It was West’s 19-footer clinched at the point that edged the Hornets over the Raptors. The clash tightened and the game took a u-turn when West blocked a crucial
shot registered by Johnson. 15 seconds left in game and a single rebound made it impossible for the Raptors to reconcile. West hit two free throws to freeze the scores at 85-81.
Best player of the game
Jack made a healthy contribution for the second straight game, dishing out 17 points for the leading team. The player grabbed 23 points off the bench in a clash against the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday. Jack’s recent hot streak forced the opponent team’s
coach into reducing the playtime of Chris Paul.
Weakest link
Bargnani, Raptors centre was just 4 for 17 from the field in shooting. The player was a meagre 1 of 7 from the three point line. He could only dish out 11 points in a duration of 42 minutes.
Also in the arena
Two famous actors from the cast of “Meeting Evil”, Samuel L. Jackson and the heart throb Luke Wilson also attended the game. The actors are in New Orleans for shooting of the movie.
More to watch
For the Raptors, Wednesday @ San Antonio, Friday @ Orlando, Saturday @ Miami.
For the Hornets, Wednesday vs. Memphis, Friday @ Atlanta, Saturday vs. San Antonio.
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