Danny Green's Big Night and More - 3 Takeaways from Raptors vs. Grizzlies

The Raptors took on the Grizzlies in Toronto on the second night of a back-to-back, pulling ahead with a huge third quarter in which they outscored Memphis 45-14. The final score was 119-90, with the Raptors able to play their bench guys for most of the fourth quarter, letting us get yet another glimpse at Raptors905 prospects Chris Boucher, Jordan Loyd, and Malachi Richardson.

Here are my takeaways from that game:

1. Danny Green Needs a Spot in the 3-Point Contest

After hitting 3’s at a consistent clip (42.1% on 5.5 attempts per game) all season long, Danny Green had himself a night against Memphis. He knocked down 8-12 threes, with seven of those coming in a huge third quarter.

Green’s teammates were passing up their own open looks to create chances for him, and it paid off. Green was hugely responsible for the Raptors’ 45 point third quarter, scoring nearly half of their points in the quarter.

With All-Star Weekend approaching, Raptors fans are hoping that Danny, a quick fan-favourite in Toronto, will earn himself a spot in the 3-Point Contest.

2. CJ had Another Good Night

CJ Miles has put together a pair of good games after season-long struggles. Against the Suns on Friday, he put together an efficient (5-7) 13 points, and against the Grizzlies, he put up a slightly less efficient (4-12) 13, with 5 steals for his first decent defensive showing of the year.

If CJ can put his struggles behind him and turn his season around, it would be huge for that bench unit. He himself has admitted that he’s been having a rough season, and it would be nice to insert himself back into the lineup. However, that is dependent on his shooting stroke remaining consistent, which is not a guarantee.

3. The Blowout Allowed Starters to Get Rest

No single Raptor saw 30 minutes of playing time against the Grizzlies last night. That is hugely helpful in letting heavy-minute starters get some rest. Particularly, it was nice to see Kyle Lowry get an easy night, seeing as his back injury remains a concern, and he’s been playing rather heavy minutes as of late.

The blowout of the Grizzlies also allowed for the bench players to get some run, with Chris Boucher, Jordan Loyd, and Malachi Richardson getting a few minutes of garbage time play. We also got our first look at new addition, Patrick McCaw, who put up a quietly impressive 2, 2, and 2.

The Raptors and Grizzlies both play again on Monday, with the Raptors seeing the Kings at home and the Grizzlies hosting the Pelicans.