When it was announced that Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis wouldn’t be playing, the outcome of this game was largely decided. The Toronto Raptors, for all their struggles and inconsistencies at different points this season, have not lost to a team as bad as the star-less New Orleans Pelicans.
Early on, the Pelicans looked like they might defy the odds. A cold shooting streak by the Raptors, along with a balanced scoring attack by the Pelicans, put New Orleans up two after the first frame.
The Raptors would have fallen even farther back if it wasn’t for the spectacular play of Kawhi Leonard.