Toronto Raptors vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Postgame Grades and Analysis

Despite playing without Anthony Davis (shoulder), Jrue Holiday (leg) and Ryan Anderson (knee), the New Orleans Pelicans pulled out a big 100-97 win in crunch time against the Toronto Raptors.

New Orleans struggled out of the gate, with Toronto jumping out to a 56-44 lead at halftime. Having trailed by 18 at one point, the Pelicans faced an uphill battle in the second half—especially without their key cogs. 

However, the Raptors first-half success ultimately proved unsustainable, as the Pelicans went on a scoring spree led by its second unit.

Though the two teams traded blows as the game progressed, New Orleans ultimately shot the ball more efficiently and was led by a bench effort that shamed that of Toronto.

New Orleans Pelicans	Grades
Toronto Raptors	Grades
Tyreke Evans	B+
Alexis Ajinca	A
Norris Cole	A
Luke Babbitt	A
Rest of Team	C+
Kyle Lowry	A-
DeMar DeRozan	C+
Jonas Valanciunas	B+
James Johnson	B+
Rest of Team	D

New Orleans Pelicans

Tyreke Evans: B+

The Advocate's Scott Kushner noted Evans apparently played, despite being sick, according to head coach Monty Williams:

Sure, Tyreke Evans could have been more efficient as a shooter—going just 5-of-13 from the floor. However, his role as a facilitator was established during the teams' runs. Finishing with 12 dimes—one less than the entire Raptors team—Evans was also the only Pelicans starter with a positive plus/minus (plus-nine).

However, his strong assisting day wasn't without its faults. In addition to his overall shooting struggles, Evans' shot selection in crunch time was questionable at best. He didn't do all too much on the defensive end either.

However, he looked aggressive on offense and looked comfortable leading a New Orleans squad that is without both its star in the middle (Davis) and its point guard (Holiday).

Alexis Ajinca: A

Omer Asik was relatively quiet without Davis in the lineup—a fact that many would assume might kill the Pelicans. However, Alexis Ajinca kept the team afloat inside, offering a 16-point, nine-rebound performance in which he saw the team's crunch-time minutes. 

With him leading the post, New Orleans saw its greatest stretches of success. Even with Valanciunas excelling in the opening half, Ajinca went toe-to-toe with him whenever on the court.

With New Orleans' frontcourt depth severely depleted, Ajinca's big night was needed desperately. Though it was a team victory, it's hard to imagine them pulling away without his services. 

Norris Cole: A

Norris Cole might be a bit unfamiliar with the Pelicans' offense having arrived at the trade deadline, but it hardly showed Monday night as the point guard came through with a fantastic 15-point performance, going 7-of-11 from the field.

He posted 13 in the final quarter, igniting the team's big run that established its path to victory. Bleacher Report highlighted the Pelicans' win:

He also added six assists, adding point guard depth to compensate for Holiday's absence. The team relied on his scoring and facilitating services throughout the night, as Cole's followed up his 12-point debut in New Orleans with another big night, suggesting a permanent role in the team's rotation.

Luke Babbitt: A

Hardwood Paroxysm's Matt Cianfrone pointed out Babbitt and Coles' combined scoring stat in the fourth quarter:

Ajinca and Cole played major roles, but Luke Babbitt was the Pelicans' true star off the bench. He shot the ball efficiently, missing just two of his nine attempts and finishing the night with a team-high 18 points.

It was his work from beyond the arc that ultimately helped the team the most, as he went 4-of-5 from deep, leading a three-point effort that played a major role in the Pelicans' victory.

He also pulled down eight rebounds, though it was his shooting that ultimately served as his most valuable service.

Rest of Team: C+

In the starting unit, Asik and Eric Gordon offered a combined 25 points. Asik was hardly a liability, but he failed to take over as Ajinca did. Gordon, on the other hand, was a shooting nightmare, having scored his 11 points on 14 attempts.

Nobody else on the team scored above five, with the aforementioned quartet ultimately serving as the collective reason behind New Orleans' win. 

Toronto Raptors

Kyle Lowry: A-

Layne Murdoch Jr./Getty Images

Kyle Lowry is quickly becoming a bona fide stud—the product of his will to compete rather than innate talent. Monday night, that was on full display as the Raptor's floor general shouldered the team's scoring burden, leading the squad with 22 points on 8-of-19 shooting. 

Though he played hard from start to finish—he began attacking the rim harder as the game progressed and ultimately enjoyed his best moments in the final minutes. 

Hitting big shots, coming through on the foul line and guaranteeing necessary possessions with All-Star-caliber rebounds, Lowry's toughness shone through and helped keep Toronto close to the final buzzer.

DeMar DeRozan: C+

Two nights after going 4-of-14 against the Houston Rockets, DeMar DeRozan struggled again to find his shot, finishing just 6-of-15 for 14 points. Though Lowry has emerged as the team's top scorer, DeRozan's streaky shooting still hurts the team when he can't find the rim.

Especially with Lou Williams failing to emerge as a viable scorer off the bench, DeRozan needed to be Lowry's sidekick. To make a long, 48-minute story short, he didn't. 

However, what ultimately hurt the team the most was his passiveness on the offensive end. Content with letting Lowry lead the team, DeRozan failed to step up mentally, which ultimately led to Lowry forcing a few bad shots that likely could have been avoided.

Jonas Valanciunas: B+

With no Anthony Davis in the lineup, the Raptors' big man enjoyed one of his finest overall nights of the season. Posting a final stat line of 17 and 14—Toronto's man in the middle set the tone from the inside. RaptorsRepublic.com's Matt Shantz noted Valanciunas significant progress contributing "on both sides of the court":

He posted 13 points in the first half, out-hustling and outplaying New Orleans' bigs as Toronto jumped out to a big lead.

However, despite a great final stat line, he failed to offer the same production as the game progressed. Though he maintained his energy level, he couldn't provide the scoring necessary to carry the Raptors.

James Johnson: B+

Off his best night of the season—a 27-point outburst against Houston, James Johnson offered a 7-of-10 night from the floor, good for 14 points.

All of his shots came from the paint, as the forward put forth a quiet, though respectable, night.

Layne Murdoch Jr./Getty Images

Still, despite his 70 percent clip from the floor, the team's newest starter struggled elsewhere. Aside from his five rebounds, he was completely quiet, never getting to the foul line or creating shots for his teammates.

However, as a role player, he did what he was asked to do. 

Rest of Team: D

Yuck. What more can be said, really? The starting lineup had its strong moments, but it was in the second unit where this game was lost. 

Williams was awful off the bench, going 1-of-8 from the floor and 1-of-5 from deep, leading the team's shooting struggles. 

Greivis Vasquez and Terrence Ross were equally bad, combining for a 4-of-13 mark. Vasquez was 0-of-3 from deep and failed to get his teammates involved as he usually does.

Overall, Toronto was playing with a short bench, but the few guys who logged substantial minutes were liabilities more than helping hands.  

Up Next

The Raptors continue the post-All-Star-break stretch with another away game against a top Western Conference team. Tuesday night, they'll face the Dallas Mavericks as Toronto looks to find its way in getting back on track after dropping another game.

Though Dallas has an elite roster, it isn't without fault. With the right game plan, the Raptors could throw their name back into the pot as a top-tier Eastern Conference team with a victory against one of the league's highest-powered offenses.

New Orleans has a day of rest before hosting the Brooklyn Nets—a fringe playoff team in the East.

They'll look to use this momentum to overcome the host of injuries plaguing key players.