RJ Barrett, Raptors hold Hornets at bay

Field Level Media|published: Sun 3rd March, 21:02 2024

Mar 3, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard Immanuel Quickley (5) scores on a layup against the Charlotte Hornets in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. credits: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

RJ Barrett scored 23 points and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Charlotte Hornets 111-106 Sunday night.

Immanuel Quickley added 22 points and 11 assists for the Raptors, who had lost their two previous games. Ochai Agbaji had 13 points and career-best nine rebounds and added two blocked shots. Gary Trent Jr. contributed 17 points. Jordan Nwora and Gradey Dick each scored 11.

Toronto's Jakob Poeltl (dislocated finger) left the game in the first half and did not return. He had eight points, two rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot.

Brandon Miller scored 26 points for the Hornets, who have lost four in a row. Miles Bridges scored 20 points. Grant Williams added 18 points and 13 rebounds. Vasilije Micic scored 12 points and Davis Bertans added 14 points.

The Raptors took a seven-point lead into the fourth quarter. Nwora scored the first five points of the fourth, and Barrett's 3-pointer gave Toronto a 14-point lead with 9:09 remaining.

Two Williams free throws trimmed the margin to eight with 4:00 left, and Charlotte took the lead on a 3-pointer by Bertans with 1:06 left.

Quickley's two free throws gave Toronto a one-point lead, and he made two more foul shots to increase the lead to three with 25 seconds remaining.

After Bertans missed a 3-point attempt, Quickley connected on two more free throws with 20 seconds left. A Williams free throw followed by Miller's layup cut the margin to two with 18 seconds left.

Toronto scored the final three points on a Trent free throw and steal that led to a breakaway layup.

Charlotte led 29-27 after the first quarter. The Hornets then used a 7-0 run to take a 41-33 lead with 7:14 remaining in the second quarter.

Toronto scored the next nine points to take a one-point lead with 5:18 remaining in the first half. Quickley's layup completed the scoring in the first half and gave Toronto a 52-48 lead.

Bridges made a layup to tie the game at 60 with 6:37 to play in the third quarter. Trent and Barrett answered with consecutive 3-pointers. The Raptors led 82-75 after the third quarter.

Toronto was without Scottie Barnes (broken finger).

Seth Curry (ankle) and Cody Martin (ankle) were among the missing for Charlotte.

—Field Level Media

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