Indiana Basketball: Anunoby has huge first game of NBA restart

Indiana basketball alum OG Anunoby came up big for the Raptors in their first game of the NBA restart in the Orlando bubble.

The NBA did the Toronto Raptors no favor in scheduling them to play the Lakers in their first game of the restart in Orlando. The Raptors didn’t seem to mind though as they took care of Lebron James and the Lakers, pulling away in the 4th to win 107-92.

Kyle Lowry led the way for the Raptors, but Indiana alum OG Anunoby was perhaps the most important player on the court for Toronto. Anunoby scored 23 points with four rebounds and two assists.

More impressively is how he did it. Anunoby shot 8-9 from the field including 3-3 of three from deep. He also hit all four of his free throws and the Raptors were +27 with him on the court.

It didn’t stop there as Anunoby was tasked with guarding James for most of the night and he did a great job of limiting him. Lebron would score just 20 points on 7-15 shooting and was largely held in check by Anunoby.

The Raptors are 6.5 games back of the East-leading Bucks, so they won’t catch them, but they sit four games up on the Celtics as they try and secure the second seed. A win like this is huge to get things rolling in the bubble and for them to maintain their hold on the second spot.

If the Raptors are going to make a run in the playoffs they will need Anunoby to play like he did Saturday night. He still needs to show he can do it on a consistent basis, but if last night is a sign of things to come the Raptors are going to be in good shape.