The Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr scored a season-high 28 points, including eight 3-pointers, in the team's 121-97 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Trent Jr was nearly perfect, hitting eight of his nine attempts from beyond the arch.
After shooting a season-worst 4-for-32 from three against Boston on Monday, Toronto bounced back with a season-best 20 makes from beyond the arc, surpassing their previous high of 19 threes made against San Antonio in November.
Guards Immanuel Quickley and Dennis Schroder each finished with three 3-pointers. Quickley nearly finished with a triple-double with 17 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds.
Toronto also got contributions from starters RJ Barrett (26 points and eight rebounds) and Scottie Barnes (20 points, eight rebounds, and five assists).
The Raptors were missing their longest-tenured player Pascal Siakam. Hours prior to the game, the team reportedly agreed to trade the 29-year-old native of Cameroon to the Pacers in exchange for Bruce Brown Jr, Jordan Nwora, Kira Lewis Jr., and three future first-round draft picks.
Siakam, a veteran who had spent his entire eight-year career in Toronto, helped the franchise capture their lone NBA championship in 2019 and was a two-time All-Star (2020, 2023).
"He was always coachable, always professional since day one," said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic after learning of the pending trade prior to the game. "I can only be thankful and grateful for all of his contributions to our team this season."
During the game, Rajakovic's squad blazed out to a quick start, leading 41-18 after the first quarter and 78-43 at halftime. The 35-point deficit was too much for Miami to overcome, as the lead remained in double-digits for the entire second half.
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