Raptors’ Jakob Poeltl made history Tuesday. Here’s what he did in win over Magic

Jakob Poeltl had a memorable performance for the record books Tuesday in the Raptors win over the Orlando Magic.

Making his second start and playing just his third game after being acquired from the San Antonio Spurs last week at the NBA trade deadline, the seven-foot-one centre made his first eight shots and eventually finished with 30 points, the most he’s ever scored in two stints with the Toronto. He added nine rebounds, and went 15-for-17 from the floor in the 123-113 win at Scotiabank Arena.

According to basketball-reference.com, Poeltl and David Robinson are the only players in NBA history to have 30 or more points without making a free throw or a three-pointer while also registering at least five blocked shots. Robinson is in the Basketball Hall of Fame and the legendary Spurs centre was named as one of the NBA’s 75 greatest players in 2021.

“I think he was nervous the first night, a little bit nervous the first game coming back, that kind of stuff,” Nurse said of Poeltl. “I thought he settled in a little bit.”

His screening ability, and seamless connection on pick-and-roll action with Fred VanVleet has given the Raptors a new, and much needed, addition to their offence.

“We were cutting but I didn’t think we were doing quick enough job of cutting towards the rim to give him somebody to hit,” Nurse said after the game. “I think that's something we can explore and get a little better at.

“We did get a couple a couple of them in the second half, but his rolling in the screen and roll was huge because they were trying to put multiple guys on Fred and Pascal (Siakam) and every time we hit him seemed like something good happened.”

Not bad for someone who was obtained primarily for his size and defensive rim protection.

“I feel like I’m just in a little bit of a different role,” Poeltl said this week. “In San Antonio I had the ball in my hands a lot and I was trying to create for other guys. So far here I’m just in a lot of pick and roll situations. We have really talented one-on-one scorers in P(ascal Siakam) and Fred and all those guys so yeah, I’m just trying to play a more supportive role on offence I guess.”

Or a proactive role if that’s what is called for.

“I’d argue I was still in the support role, I was just getting a lot of passes out of the pick-and-roll,” Poeltl said after the game. “It’s about reacting to the defence, they trapped Freddy a bunch of times so I’m comfortable catching the ball at the top of the key and trying to make plays.

“I feel like I was looking for the pass a little bit early on and then I noticed they were backing off so I was able to look for my own shot a little bit more. I think Fred did a really good job in the pick-and-roll finding me and it was just about finishing those off.”

It’s too much to ask Poeltl to put up huge scoring nights — and that’s not his primary role by any stretch with this team — but he’s a real threat opponents feel.

“I hope that Jak’s presence is creating a lot of collapsing defences and the rolling’s getting better, not just from him but from other players,” Nurse said.

“I think our point guards and guys coming off screens are hitting guys too.”

The Raptors acquired Poeltl for Khem Birch, a top-six protected first round pick and two second-round picks from San Antonio on Thursday.

Doug Smith is a sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @smithraps