The Toronto Raptor’s record book has plenty of entries that say Vince Carter. However, the single game all-time leading scorer record has a comma added thanks to Terrence Ross’ 51-point career high outburst on January 25, 2014.
Like Vinsanity, Ross was a high draft pick who had brought a Slam Dunk Champion trophy to “The 6.” But unlike Carter, he did not make a huge impact to his team early on. The previous two games he had scored 13 points total. In fact, his career high going into that game against the Los Angeles Clippers was 26 points during his rookie season. So it goes without saying no one expected such a game from the then-sophomore player.
What we did expect from Ross was to wear something different every night. Like many of his Toronto Raptors teammates, Ross tends to wear a variety of models from Nike and Jordan. For this particular night he happened to be wearing the first colorway of the then-new Nike Air Flightposite Exposed. The “Zebra” colorway’s black and red matched up with the colors of the home uniform. Maybe it had to do with DeMar DeRozan’s injury during the game or maybe it had to do with the kicks. Whatever the reason, Ross had himself a career game.
His scoring frenzy was helped by making a franchise record seven 3-pointers in the first half, and adding three more in the second half. Other jumpers he hit were smooth and easy going. But Ross being Ross, he had to throw in a few high-flying dunks into the mix as well.
He would finish the game 16-for-29 from the floor, with 10-of-17 on threes and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. He also grabbed nine rebounds to add to the stat line. However, he couldn’t help his team get the win as they fell 126-118.
Still, that night was one to remember for the Raptors swingman. He became the only NBA player averaging single digits to have ever reached 50. Terrence Ross has subsequently shown that, although erratic at times, if he gets hot he can shoot the lights out. And by nearly doubling his previous career high in one night, we are all waiting to see if he can electrify a Raptors game again, much like “Air Canada” did back in the day.
Nick Engvall
Robbie Falchi