The Toronto Raptors failed to defend home court at Scotiabank Arena again, this time falling to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Even without Ja Morant, the Grizzlies were able to come into Toronto and make a statement behind a huge performance from Jaren Jackson Jr. and a breakout game from Desmond Bane.
Jackson was a monster on both ends of the floor, recording one of his best scoring games of the season with 25 points while also adding five blocks. Bane was a marksman, knocking down a career-high-tying five 3s en route to 23 points.
The Raptors got 20 points from Pascal Siakam and a strong stat line of 19 points, seven boards, four blocks, three assists and two steals from Scottie Barnes, but it wasn't enough to earn the win.
For more on this contest, we have you covered with some thoughts below.
1. It's Jaren Jackson Jr.'s time to shine
With Ja Morant expected to be sidelined for a few weeks, the responsibility will fall on the Grizzlies' other young franchise cornerstone to carry the load.
Jackson looked like every bit of a former top-five pick in this one, making his presence felt on both ends. Offensively, he had one of his best performances of the season, going for 25 points with four 3-pointers. Defensively, he was sending away shots at the rim, tallying five blocks.
trip can give you this too. https://t.co/FxxO6fn3wp pic.twitter.com/043qWJLbGY
— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) December 1, 2021
Jackson was seen as one of the best young prospects in the NBA before he tore his meniscus during his second year in the league. The 22-year-old looked like he was back to full strength in this one, putting together arguably his best game of the year.
2. Raptors defensive improvements
NBA.com's Scott Rafferty detailed the Raptors' struggles on defence this season heading into this matchup, and they were much better on that end of the floor tonight.
Holding the Grizzlies to just 98 points while shooting 38.7 percent from the field and 29.4 from 3, it was one of their better defensive performances of the season.
Unfortunately for Toronto, it didn't do a great job of finishing defensive possessions, out-rebounded 18-11 on the offensive glass to allow 26 second-chance points.
To add to that, the Raptors had one of their worst shooting nights of the season, converting just 39.6 percent of shots from the field and 25.6 percent from 3.
The defensive progress was encouraging, but there is still work to be done.
3. Scottie Barnes is starting to find his shooting stroke
Barnes' biggest concern as a prospect was his jump shot. After starting his rookie season shooting 2-for-13 from 3 over his first 15 games, it was clear it would be a work-in-progress.
Over his last five games, Barnes has been firing with confidence from 3-point range, looking like a completely different player.
During that span, Barnes is shooting 10-for-21 from 3 – a whopping 47.6 percent. Over his last two games – this one included – he's 7-for-15 from 3.
Barnes knocked down a pair of big 3s late in the fourth quarter to try and keep the Raptors' winning hopes alive. The team's efforts fell short, but it's a positive sign of improvement from the 20-year-old.
4. Was Desmond Bane the steal of the 2021 NBA Draft?
The Grizzlies selected Bane with the No. 30 overall pick (via trade with BOS) in the 2021 NBA Draft. It's only been one season and change, but it appears as though Memphis may have landed the steal of the draft.
He was awesome in this contest against the Raptors, going for 23 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a career-high-tying five 3s.
For further indication of just how well he played tonight, The Toronto Star's Doug Smith had the perfect Tweet.
Desmond Bane should retire after tonight so they can get him in Springfield quicker
— Doug Smith: Raptors (@SmithRaps) December 1, 2021
Bane has been an everyday starter for the Grizzlies in Year 2, averaging 15.6 points while shooting 38.5 percent from 3. He's been a two-way stud, playing strong perimeter defence while also bringing tough shot-making and glimpses of playmaking to the offensive end.
Memphis got a good one in Bane.
5. Yuta Watanabe's energy-changing minutes off the bench
Going into this contest, as you may have read following the loss to the Celtics, the Raptors rank dead-last in the NBA in bench scoring at 24.0 points per game.
Watanabe's energy on both ends of the floor was missed during his absence at the start of the season with a calf injury, but he injected some life into Toronto in this one.
Watanabe matched his career-high with three 3-pointers made, tallying 11 points off the bench.
Lucky lefty @wacchi1013 pic.twitter.com/lthhupfvD4
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 1, 2021
His eight points with a pair of 3s in the third quarter helped the Raptors cut the deficit to a manageable number, trailing by only three points going into the final frame.
The effort didn't result in a win, but it's a great way to keep himself firmly placed in head coach Nick Nurse's rotation.
6. Fred VanVleet with shades of Stephen Curry
This double behind the back from VanVleet looked eerily familiar.
.@FredVanVleet is like that! pic.twitter.com/qi0zZ3pHQL
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) December 1, 2021
It was the only 3-pointer VanVleet knocked down on the night, finishing with 15 points while shooting 1-for-5 from 3. He also added nine points and three asssits, but his scoring output wasn't enough in this one.
7. Jaren Jackson Jr. meets Scottie Barnes at the rim
Barnes was feeling ambitious, trying Jackson at the rim despite the Grizzlies center already having three blocks in the game to that point.
It... didn't work out for the Raptors rookie.
Scottie Barnes' staredown dunk didn't go as planned 😅 pic.twitter.com/lVbwkhzYP6
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 1, 2021
8. What's next?
The Raptors will have one day off before they have to gear up to host the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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