Hardwood Highlight of the Night: Raptors turn defense to offense for transition 3

The Toronto Raptors are a hot mess right now.

They played miserably once again Saturday night, arguably reaching a new low on the season in losing (for the fifth straight game) to an 11-46 New York Knicks squad playing a night after a double-overtime marathon. 

There was many a lowlight for the Raptors and not many highlights, but one sequence in the third quarter was both a fine display of two-way play and a rare aesthetic treat.

The play gets started at the defensive end, where James Johnson - one of few Raptors who's continued to be marginally productive during their ugly five-game swoon - gets up for a perfectly-timed challenge at the rim, forcing a wild layup attempt from Lance Thomas.

As Jonas Valanciunas positions himself for the rebound, Patrick Patterson (bottom right corner) is getting set to leak out.

Valanciunas corrals the rebound and quickly dishes to Lou Williams. Meanwhile, Patterson is on his horse, sprinting upcourt and leaving Andrea Bargnani in a cloud of dust.

Patterson heads straight for the left corner, his most efficient 3-point spot on the floor (42.1 percent) this season.

Williams leads him there with a beautiful full-court bounce pass, and Patterson unleashes a triple without hesitation, knotting the game up at 63.

Here's the play in its entirety: 

(Courtesy: Sportsnet)