Dial 905: Raptors 905 dialed the right Key to start the season with a bang

A fun up-and-down game with very little structure on both sides that ended with Tyreke Key turning a grenade into a game-winner.

The Raptors 905 kicked off their season in dramatic fashion, securing a thrilling 116-115 victory over the Delaware Blue Coats, thanks to a last-second buzzer-beater trifecta by Tyreke Key. The game was decided in the final moments of a season opener filled with back-and-forth action. DJ Carton threw a grenade to Key, delivering a clutch shot as time expired to give the Raptors 905 head coach Drew Jones his first win.

Assignee(s)

Raptors 905: DJ Carton (TW), Ulrich Chomche (TW)

Delaware Blue Coats: Justin Edwards (TW), Lester Quinones (TW)

Starters

Raptors 905: Kennedy Chandler, DJ Carton (TW), Branden Carlson, Dylan Disu, Quincy Guerrier

Delaware Blue Coats: Judah Mintz, Jarron Cumberland, Isaiah Mobley, Jordan Tucker, Justin Edwards (TW)

The Raptors starting backcourt combined for a 50-burger, with Kennedy Chandler dropping 25 points, 10 dimes, and seven boards. DJ Carton, a Two-Way contract player with the Raptors, chipped in 25 points and seven dimes. Branden Carlson and Quincy Guerrier had impressive debuts as well. Carlson got the starting C gig and finished with 16 points, 14 boards, and three blocks. Guerrier also had a solid 17 points and nine boards as a starter. However, Tyreke Key stole the show, as the super sub dropped two clutch trifectas in the fourth, including the game-winner.

Ulrich Chomche came off the bench with wild impact swings on the floor. He managed to block three shots despite being out of position for the most part defensively, and he looked lost defensively at times whenever he strayed outside of the paint. He clearly looked raw and perhaps nervous, but this is a good start for him.

Blue Coats’ Justin Edwards led all scorers with 28 points and six boards and almost willed his team to a victory. Raptors “old friend” Patrick McCaw had another strong game against the Raptors 905, dropping 18 points, six boards, and four steals, leading the Blue Coats’ 50-point bench production.

This game was not devoid of drama, with the teams changing leads and getting tied 26 times, with four of them happening in the last minute, including Key’s game-winner. The numbers were pretty even in this game, from perimeter shooting, free throws, assists, etc. Still, the Blue Coats could not capitalize on their rebounding advantage (+11), which helped them create more shot opportunities (+13 FGA).

Lefty Justin Edwards started the game with an acrobatic finish over Carlson’s tough contest. The Blue Coats had the slight upper hand in the first period, thanks to Edwards’ aggression in transition, Patrick McCaw’s scoring (???), and the nerves likely affecting the Raptors 905 a lot, as they shot a dismal 35.7% from the field, including 2-for-12 from behind the arc.

The Raptors 905 started the second period flat, with several players looking gassed. However, coach Jones got his starters back early, and they did not disappoint: Carton’s transition block energized the team, shifting the momentum and got the Raptors 905’s mojo going with a 16-2 run to take a 42-33 lead, coasting to half time with a 62-48 lead. Carlson and Guerrier had nine points apiece during the 36-17 run in the final nine minutes of the quarter, but it was a solid overall effort on both ends of the floor that got it done for the Raptors 905.

Coach Jones’ Raptors 905 looked like they would coast to an easy win with how the third period started, building a 16-point lead off Carton’s back-to-back trifectas. However, the Raptors 905’s offense went out of control, and defensive breakdowns allowed McCaw and the Blue Coats to go on a 15-0 run to cut the Raptors 905’s lead to 78-77. The 905ers tried to hang on to the lead, but Jared Brownsridge’s trifecta tied the game at 86 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter started with a barrage of perimeter shots from both sides, interrupted by a stoppage due to Chandler’s leg cramps. The Raptors 905 relied on Carton and Chandler’s individual plays to keep up with the Blue Coats, which had momentum since the third period. The 905ers found themselves up 112-108 with about 100 seconds to go. However, offensive and defensive lapses allowed McCaw and the Blue Coats to take a 113-112 lead with a minute left.

Chandler called for his number, and his drive got him to the stripes, but he was able to make just one freebie, tying the game. McCaw blew a wide-open layup, and with a 10-second clock game and shot-clock difference, Chandler called for his number again, only this time, he was well-defended. Edwards got the rebound, and with the Blue Coats not calling for time, Edwards blew past Chandler from the top of the key and was fouled by Carlson at the rim. Edwards made both freebies to give the hosts a 115-113 lead with 6.4 seconds remaining.

Coach Jones called for a reset time-out (no-huddle, just advancing the ball half-court). With Key inbounding the ball, he got the ball to their first option: for Carton to ISO from the top of the key. However, Edwards well-defended his attack, and Cumberland (Key’s man) was cheating on Carton’s strong side to discourage a drive. Carton picked up his dribble with three seconds remaining, and luckily for the Raptors 905, Key was able to relocate to an open spot and hoisted the game-winning three. The refs gave the hometown team 0.2 seconds. Luckily for the Raptors 905, the Blue Coats’ coach didn’t know the “Jay Triano under 0.3 inbound play.”