Pascal Siakam led the Toronto Raptors with a strong fourth-quarter performance, scoring eight of his 27 points, to secure a 114-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets during the NBA’s Monday slate.
The Hornets played without Miles Bridges due to him being denied entry into Canada due to a legal issue from his past. Nick Richards lamented Bridges’ absence, noting his significant contribution in scoring, rebounding, and defense.
“We definitely could have used him,” Richards said. “He brings a great presence to our team in scoring, rebounding, even defending. We definitely missed him tonight. He’s definitely one of our key options. He could have helped us a lot.”
Charlotte, already dealing with the absence of injured starters LaMelo Ball, Gordon Hayward, and Mark Williams, as well as reserve Cody Martin, struggled to fill the void. Despite this, Hornets coach Steve Clifford chose not to comment on Bridges’ situation.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Gary Trent Jr. also shone brightly with a season-high 22 points and a career-best 10 rebounds, marking his first career double-double. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic praised Trent’s crucial role in the team’s recovery.
“He did a great job,” Rakakovic said. “Obviously, having him and his shooting there on the court really helped us to keep moving the scoreboard.”
The Raptors saw solid performances from Scottie Barnes, who scored 22 points and tied his career-high with 17 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder and Precious Achiuwa, who contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Toronto’s strong fourth quarter, where they outscored the Hornets 35-18, was pivotal in their comeback.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets Updates
For the Hornets, Terry Rozier led with 22 points, supported by double-figure scoring performances from P.J. Washington Jr. (15 points), Bryce McGowens (14 points), and Brandon Miller (14 points). Charlotte’s efforts included scoring 23 points off 19 Toronto turnovers, but they ultimately could not prevent their fifth consecutive loss.
Looking forward, the Hornets will visit the Indiana Pacers, while the Raptors are set to host the Denver Nuggets, both games scheduled for Wednesday night.
