The Toronto Raptors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder. I am not entirely sure how it happened, but I watched it occur on my television screen. My uncle always says that lightning cannot strike the same place twice, but the Thunder seemed to have various problems with Scottie Barnes all evening.
Scottie Barnes is currently being referred to as Scottie 561 Barnes. I assume this is an area code. It is a lot of numbers for one person to carry around, but he managed it well against Chet Holmgren (who is very tall and reminds me of a tall drink of water that someone forgot to finish).
High Stakes and Long Limbs
There was a block at the end of the game that felt significant. Scottie met Chet at the summit, which is a basketball term for jumping at the same time near the hoop. It was a defensive masterclass, or at least a very high quality lesson.
Darko Rajakovic once mentioned that Scottie would be the face of the league. It is a large league with many faces, but Scottie's face seems to be doing fine. He looked at Chet after the block and probably said something, though I could not hear it over the sound of my own refrigerator humming in the kitchen.
The Supporting Cast
Gradey Dick also played basketball during this game. People are saying he deserves love, which is a nice sentiment for a cold January night in Ontario. He is trending upwards, like the price of butter or the height of a growing fern.
JaKobe Walter was also solid. Being solid is important in a world that is increasingly liquid and confusing. The Raptors won, the Thunder lost, and we all continue to rotate on this planet until the next game starts. My shop has a signed Jorge Garbajosa photo that I should probably dust tomorrow.
Key Game Notes
- Scottie Barnes provided a defensive masterclass in the closing moments.
- The victory over the Thunder suggests that things are happening, though it is unclear what.
- Gradey Dick and JaKobe Walter are contributing in ways that make people post on the internet.
- Darko Rajakovic remains prophetic about the future of the league's face.