The Toronto Raptors made the most of their home finale with a commanding 126–96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night. While the win was another promising sign of the team’s developing depth, it also complicated the franchise’s pursuit of an advantageous draft lottery position.
In a contest that was as one-sided as the score suggests, the Raptors’ youthful roster and second-unit contributors put on a show that might just have been too good for the organisation’s long-term lottery odds.
The Hornets, on the other hand, looked flat for most of the night and were unable to offer much resistance, their effort perhaps more focused on honouring veteran Taj Gibson’s 1,000th NBA game than delivering a late-season upset.
Head coach Darko Rajaković gave the fans what they wanted early—minutes for cornerstone pieces Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, and Immanuel Quickley. In just under 15 minutes together, the trio posted a +6 plus/minus, with Barnes in particular showcasing improved shooting touch. He finished with 17 points, knocking down three pull-up threes with confidence.
But the real story of the night came from Toronto’s reserves.
Jonathan Mogbo, in just his 12th NBA appearance, exploded for a triple-double: 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. The 23-year-old forward looked in total control, threading passes, cleaning the glass, and hitting his spots with calm maturity.
Jared Rhoden, a two-way player, led all scorers with 23 points, hitting from outside and attacking the rim with confidence. AJ Lawson chipped in with 14 points, while Cole Swider and Jamison Battle each connected from deep, combining for four three-pointers.
It was a performance that reinforced what America Bet predicted in our pre-match betting preview: Toronto’s youthful second unit was more cohesive and effective than Charlotte’s makeshift starting five. One of the featured betting tips—Toronto -7.5—landed comfortably, while another solid shout, Jonathan Mogbo Over 10.5 Rebounds, came heartbreakingly close with 10 boards exactly.
With betting markets tilted in favour of a low-scoring affair, the Over 221.5 Total Points recommendation was also a winner, as the teams combined for 222. Meanwhile, Toronto’s Winning Margin 11-15, which was one of the more speculative plays, fell short only due to the 30-point blowout margin.
For Charlotte, this game epitomised the challenges of a developmental season nearing its end. Without much rhythm, structure, or defensive resistance, the Hornets were overwhelmed early and often. Their turnover problems returned—something America Bet highlighted in its preview—and they never recovered after trailing by double digits midway through the second quarter.
The lone bright spot was the celebratory milestone for Taj Gibson, whose 1,000th career game was marked with a tribute and a moment of recognition. However, the team around him showed few signs of fight, energy, or cohesion.
Miles Bridges was largely ineffective, and the absence of key contributors from earlier in the season has left this Hornets squad with little continuity and even less identity. This was their 10th loss in 11 games, and they’re limping to the finish line with more questions than answers.
For Raptors fans who’ve accepted that this season’s ceiling is measured in lottery ping-pong balls rather than playoff wins, this result adds a degree of unwanted suspense. The Raptors still need one more loss to lock in the seventh spot in the draft lottery, a position that offers significantly improved odds for a top-three pick.
Toronto’s next opponent, the Dallas Mavericks, may rest key players now that their play-in status is secured. That introduces the possibility of an unintentional win—an outcome that would severely jeopardise the Raptors’ lottery goals.
Alternatively, a San Antonio Spurs win in their final two games would do the trick and allow Toronto to “clinch” seventh from the couch. But that’s a risk. If it all comes down to Sunday’s finale against San Antonio, the Raptors may be stuck in a situation where another accidental win works against them.
Chris Boucher was absent for this one, and signs point to the veteran forward having played his final minutes as a Raptor. If so, he departs as the franchise’s all-time leader in bench points, with 3,612 across 406 games—an impressive feat that underscores his impact as a consistent rotational contributor.
Toronto now head to Texas for a Friday night clash with the Mavericks in Dallas. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET. What should be a challenging road game could instead become a wildcard, depending on who Dallas puts on the court.
For now, Raptors fans can enjoy a dominant home finale that showcased the promise of a developing core and the talent bubbling through the second unit. Whether it was Mogbo’s triple-double or Rhoden’s scoring burst, Toronto reminded everyone that even in a rebuilding year, there’s always something worth watching.
As always, check in with America Bet for continued updates, betting insights, and full match previews as the NBA regular season draws to a dramatic close.
