Hardwood Highlight of the Night: Valanciunas finds Vasquez in the corner out of the pick-and-roll

Now in his third NBA season, the development of Toronto Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas has been slow and incremental, often frustratingly so. But progress has continued nonetheless, and this season, more than any other, the seeds of stardom for the young Lithuanian have begun to bear fruit. 

One particular area in which Valanciunas's growth has remained stunted is his awareness and vision out of the post, particularly against double teams. But on one third-quarter play against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night - in a game Valanciunas put his stamp on with 15 points and 15 rebounds in just 23 minutes - those concerns were tabled. 

The play starts out in unconventional fashion, with Valanciunas handling the rock above the break. The Raptors are setting up a dribble-handoff for DeMar DeRozan, an action they typically run using Amir Johnson as the screener. 

DeRozan takes the handoff while Valanciunas wipes his defender, Andrew Wiggins, out of the play with a solid screen, opening up an ocean of space. 

Valanciunas rolls off the screen, and, on cue, DeRozan hits him with a nice little pocket pass. But the Raptors are loaded up on the right side of the floor, so Valanciunas has a pack of Timberwolves ready to swarm him as he barrels into the paint. 

This is where Valanciunas's prudence takes over. He slows up, turns his back to the basket, and assesses his options as the defense begins to collapse. Two Raptors are now wide open on the perimeter - Lou Williams on the wing and Greivis Vasquez (obscured by the scorecard graphic) in the corner. 

Valanciunas looks off Williams - probably a wise choice since he shot 1-of-7 from deep in the game - and instead hits Vasquez for the corner 3.

Here's the play in its entirety: 

(Courtesy: TSN)