The Toronto Raptors are set to face the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night, with both teams in dire need of a win.
The Raptors are struggling with an 0-10 record on the road and have lost nine of their last 11 games. Meanwhile, the Pelicans have dropped five consecutive games and 11 out of their last 12.
Both squads have recently been competitive but have fallen short. On Monday night, Toronto held an eight-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but ultimately lost to the Detroit Pistons, 102-100. Similarly, New Orleans has lost its last two games by four points, the latest being a 114-110 defeat against the Indiana Pacers.
“We played really hard and put ourselves in a position to win,” said Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic. “We need to improve our execution in crucial moments, converting on offense and making stops.”
Toronto attempted 28 more shots than Detroit (104-76) but managed to convert only 39.4 percent of them.
“The difference in field goal attempts should have put us in a solid position to win,” Rajakovic noted, “but we simply didn’t convert well enough. We moved the ball effectively and did a lot of good things; we just need to make our shots.”
Three of the Raptors’ last four losses have come by four points or less, with the latest loss to the Pistons decided by a buzzer-beater from Jaden Ivey.
“We need to embrace the moment and learn to compete when the game is on the line,” Rajakovic added. “We have to understand what it takes to win in those situations.”
Toronto stands as the only NBA team yet to secure a win on the road this season and has tied the franchise record for the most consecutive road losses to start a season, matching that of the 1997-98 team. However, they’ll be up against a struggling Pelicans team that has faced its own challenges.
New Orleans recently gained a boost from newly signed point guard Elfrid Payton, who recorded a career-high 21 assists—an NBA season-best—against the Pacers.
“He was fantastic,” praised Pelicans coach Willie Green. “He’s a big-time player who elevates the team when he’s on the floor. He’s scrappy, reliable, and capable of guarding well. I’m very grateful to have him on our team.”
Both teams have dealt with numerous injuries, but guard CJ McCollum returned to action on Monday night for the first time since October 29, finishing with 23 points despite a slow start.
“We missed his ability to create for himself and others offensively,” Green stated. “He’s reliable, and we’ll need more of that moving forward.”
The Pelicans are also expecting a boost on Wednesday with the potential return of starting guard Dejounte Murray, who has been sidelined since fracturing his left hand in the season opener.
“We have to stay united, and our guys are doing a great job of that,” Green said. “Eventually, we will overcome these challenges and be better for it in the long run.”
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