Canadian Kelly Olynyk has quiet homecoming against Raptors
The Raptors returned to Toronto on Tuesday to play in front of a home crowd after a three-game road trip. But the Dinos weren’t the only ones back playing in front of familiar faces.
Canadian Kelly Olynyk suited up at the Air Canada Centre Tuesday for the first time this season to play in front of friends and family.
Olynyk, who was born in Scarborough, Ont., logged 22 minutes and shot 2-for-5 from the field in Miami’s 90-89 win.
Got him in the air! pic.twitter.com/8yQWlWBxAw
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 10, 2018
Despite Olynyk’s quiet four-point, five-rebound performance against the Raptors, the B.C.-native is averaging 10.5 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season while playing almost 24 minutes a night.
Olynyk has scored in double-digits 24 times since being picked up by the Miami Heat in the offseason and is averaging 13.8 PPG in the last 10 games.
His season has been highlighted by a monster performance last month against his former team, when he scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Heat to a 90-89 win in Boston — a game where he caught fire and shot 6-for-8 from beyond the arc.
.@KellyOlynyk couldn’t have scripted last night’s return to Boston any better himself!
KO dropped a career high 32 points on his former team on 80% shooting (12-15 FG, 6-8 3PT FG) pic.twitter.com/ZILDu7yjYU
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) December 21, 2017
Olynyk, who has represented Team Canada for six years, continues to prove why he was the 13th overall draft pick back in 2013, moving from a bench player to a starter in Miami.
He pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds for the second time on Jan. 1 against the Pistons and has earned a double-double in three of his last seven games.
.@KellyOlynyk found his rhythm early in last night's #HEATwin!
KO finished the game with 25 points (11-15 FG) & 13 rebounds pic.twitter.com/ftk5wQAXGU
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) January 4, 2018
With the victory over the Raptors the Heat not only snapped Toronto’s 12-game home win streak, they extended their own win streak to five and can push it to six Wednesday night in Indiana.