Chris Boucher was the undisputed crowd favorite during the Toronto Raptors’ preseason game Sunday at the Bell Centre. But in the Quebecer’s shadow, Washington Wizards rookie Kyshawn George also received a dose of love from the fans.
The two players, who have roots in Montreal, were introduced to the crowd moments before the opening puck drop, taking the microphone to say a few words to the 21,900 spectators – a sellout crowd. The fans reserved their loudest cheers for Boucher.
Boucher, who was not named to the Raptors’ starting lineup, had 13 points and six steals. George, whose father Deon was born in Montreal, had eight points and three rebounds for the Wizards.
The two players entered at the same time with 6:11 left in the first quarter. Boucher played 18 minutes and George 21 minutes, in a 125-98 Raptors victory.
“The support [from the fans] has been great,” said Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic, who said he was impressed with the Bell Centre. “We’ve been here in Montreal for a few days and it’s been good. It’s been a great training camp so far, and being [in Montreal] is part of the equation.”
It was the first preparatory game for both teams, and unsurprisingly, both coaches made numerous changes during the match, seeking to assess their players.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe had kind words for George, who was drafted in the first round with the 24th overall pick earlier this year.
“As the game went on, he got better,” Keefe said. “I’m sure he was excited to play in his hometown, in a way. His ability to make shots and see the play, that’s what I saw from him throughout the game.”
“We’re excited to have him in our organization,” he said before the game. “It’s his first year, he’s got family here, so it’s a big day for him. He loves to play, he works really hard, you have to run him off the field sometimes in practice. We love what he brings, his size and his skills, we’re excited to have him.”
In the Raptors’ clan, no player has played more than 21 minutes. While he knows Boucher, a 31-year-old veteran who will play his seventh season with the club, well, Rajakovic said he treats him like any other player on the team.
The two men worked together this summer in preparation for the upcoming season.
“I’m honest with him, I tell him when he makes mistakes, when he does a good job. We have a really good relationship. He’s allowed me to coach him, which I appreciate, and it’s been a really fun summer with him. I think we’re going to see a lot of improvement from him this year.”
The main player appreciated the victory and the atmosphere, but managed to stay focused on basketball since it was not his first experience in Montreal.
“The first time I played here, I was a little young, I didn’t know if I was going to play, so it took me a little time to adjust,” Boucher said. “This time, I knew how it was going to go. I had a lot of friends, former coaches, my family.”
“As soon as I arrived in Montreal, I felt [the atmosphere]. It’s special, it’s really special.”
A good start
It was only a preseason game, but the Raptors, buoyed by the energy of the crowd, started the game strong. They led 13-4 after a few minutes, 34-16 after the first quarter, and 49-22 about halfway through the second.
RJ Barrett was one of the catalysts for the strong start. The young Raptors veteran had 17 points in just 14 minutes of play, but he left the game shortly before the end of the first half with a right shoulder injury.
The Wizards cut the lead to 56-38 at halftime, but the Raptors managed to hold on to the lead until the final whistle.
The Wizards, who marked their visit to Montreal by changing their name to “Wizards” on their jerseys for warmups, will play their next game Wednesday against the Knicks in New York before hosting the Raptors in Washington on Friday.
Several personalities were present at the Bell Centre for this game. Former Raptors player Vince Carter, as well as Montreal Victoire players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey were notably present. They were all warmly welcomed by the spectators.
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