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The Raptors are having their Champagnie moments, and more often than expected

If you want to know what Nick Nurse thinks of Justin Champagnie, know that the Raptors coach paid the versatile rookie a high compliment Sunday afternoon.

“He’s a bit of a gamer,” Nurse said, while talking about the emerging rotational bit of a depleted Raptors roster.

That’s a big word to toss around about a 20-year-old kid with a sum total of 12 NBA games and 59 minutes to his credit, but it’s a telling description.

“He can guard, he plays hard and he rebounds — really, really well, period, and especially well for his position,” the coach said.