Wainright and Achiuwa deliver in Raptors' Summer League win over Rockets

In a game that was all but over after a dominant second quarter, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Houston Rockets 92-76 in Summer League action Thursday night.

Toronto and Houston battled it out in quarters one, three and four, but the Raptors shot 52.2 per cent from the floor in quarter two — leading to a 27-16 edge in the period that proved to be more than the Rockets could dig their way out of.

For the second straight night, Precious Achiuwa, the primary return in Toronto’s franchise-altering trade with the Miami Heat this off-season, delivered a memorable performance on both ends of the floor.

Achiuwa scored 19 points, shooting 8-of-11 from the floor, while notching two steals and two blocks.

Joining him with an impressive outing was Ishmail Wainright, the 26-year-old undrafted free agent from Baylor.

With the best game of his Summer League so far, Wainright scored a game-high 20 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the floor and 4-of-6 from three. On defence, Wainright left an equally notable mark, with seven rebounds, two blocks and a game-high four steals.

Scottie Barnes, the Raptors’ top selection in the 2021 NBA Draft, struggled to find his rhythm offensively, shooting just 2-of-9 overall. But his defensive intensity and awareness led to a game-high five blocks.

It was not all good news for the Raptors, though. David Johsnon, a second-round pick of the team in 2021, was forced to leave early with a right shoulder sprain. Head coach Patrick Mutombo said he would undergo an MRI tomorrow.

Barnes and Matt Morgan also experienced “little” tweaks during the game, Mutombo said, that forced them to sit at different points. Both will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Injuries hit Houston, too. Jalen Green, the No. 2 overall draft pick who bypassed college basketball to play in the G League, had 13 points in only 12 minutes for the Rockets before leaving the game with a sore hamstring.