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Raptors' Powell dunks all over Hornets rookie, receives Twitter thanks

Norman Powell threw down a vicious dunk on Monday night. (Twitter/@Raptors)
Norman Powell threw down a vicious dunk on Monday night. (Twitter/@Raptors)

I know it is early in the 2018-19 NBA season, but things are looking up for Toronto Raptors shooting guard Norman Powell after a rough 2017-18.

Powell used his explosive first step to put Charlotte Hornets rookie Miles Bridges on a poster.

What. A. Slam. It’s unfortunate for the newcomer to be on the wrong side of such a vicious slam this early in his career, but to his defence, there is really nothing he could have done to stop a driving Powell.

It was only Bridges’ third regular season game, so this was quite the ‘Woah, I’m in the NBA now’ moment. After the game was over, he made sure to take to Twitter to let Powell know he appreciated the warm welcoming.

Nice to see that the 12th overall pick in the 2018 draft isn’t getting too bent out of shape after getting dunked on. Chances are it’ll happen again in his career.

For the fourth-year Raptor though, it is encouraging to see him making plays like this one. Compared to the impressive 2016-17 season which earned him a four-year, $42 million extension, last season was anything but a step forward.

Although it is still too soon to start passing judgement, it has been a better start to the season for Powell who’s been getting steady run under new head coach Nick Nurse.

Powell finished Monday’s contest against the Hornets with nine points, four rebounds, and one assist in 16 minutes of play as Toronto defeated Charlotte 127-106 to improve to 4-0 on the season.

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