The Atlanta Hawks gut-punched eager Raptors fans yesterday with the report that they had removed Paul Millsap from the trade market. With one Woj Bomb went the hopes of an in-season acquisition of the third wheel Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have been in desperate need of this season.
In Tuesday’s 114-106 win over the ankle-nipping Boston Celtics, a potential in-house solution revealed itself. Jonas Valanciunas, in the midst of a rocky stretch scarred by blown coverages against stretchy opposing bigs, turned in one of his most important and best games of the season - maybe even his Raptors career.