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Raptors attempt to ‘outperform the other team’ with new bench depth
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Raptors attempt to ‘outperform the other team’ with new bench depth

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Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey drives past Toronto Raptors forward Jamison Battle during the second half in Toronto. The Raptors won 115-107 on October 25, 2024.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press

Toronto rookie Jamison Battle received a loud ovation from fellow Raptors fans at Scotiabank Arena on Friday after committing a foul less than 15 minutes into the game.

The gesture wasn’t cynical, but a tribute to what he and a Raptors bench that included three other rookies accomplished in a 115-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Battle had 12 points and six rebounds before committing his sixth foul to be knocked out of the game.

“It feels good, just knowing I can contribute to a team win,” Battle said of the ovation. “That’s all I really care about, coming here and doing what I can to help this team win.”

Battle and the rest of Toronto’s reserves were called upon to help a rotation significantly weakened by injuries.

Head coach Darko Rajakovic said before the match that point guard Immanuel Quickley (right pelvic contusion) would miss the match. Quickley joined RJ Barrett (shoulder sprain) of Mississauga, Ont., Kelly Olynyk (back) of Kamloops, B.C., Bruce Brown (arthroscopic knee surgery) and Ja’Kobe Walter (shoulder sprain ) on the inactive list.

The referees also took out starters from both teams, committing 66 personal fouls in the game. Both teams ended up scoring more free throws than baskets, with the Raptors going 39 of 46 (84.8%) from the charity stripe and Philadelphia shooting 40 of 53 (75.5%).

Starters Jakob Poeltl, Gradey Dick and Davion Mitchell all got into trouble as they tried to shut down the Sixers’ offense.

Toronto’s bench stepped up in their absence, outscoring Philly’s reserves 41-19.

“We’re a team and that’s what we have to hold on to,” said Battle, playing in just his second NBA game. “That’s what our identity has to be: we have to outperform other teams.

“We may not have the most talent in the room, but we have a lot of people that if we put them together, (with) five guys connected on the floor, we can be really scary.”

Dick and Mitchell also fouled out, allowing Jamal Shead and Jonathan Mogbo — two of Toronto’s four picks in last summer’s NBA draft — to each play more than 23 minutes.

“I feel like everyone on the bench is ready for their name to be called,” said Mogbo, who had 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists in 24 minutes of play. “I have feel like we did a great job as a team.

“Everyone was ready to play tonight.”

Rajakovic said he worked hard in the offseason to create a sense of unity and it paid off Friday as everyone bought in.

“We’ve had a lot of guys that weren’t planned to be in the rotation, but ultimately they end up breaking the rotation and helping the team,” he said. “It’s a team that’s together.

“I told them tonight we outplayed them and that’s something I was proud of.”

Although the 76ers threatened to tie the game until the very end, many fans left the arena early as the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto’s lakeside highway that runs past Scotiabank Arena, closed for an hour after the final whistle for the works.