Even though just a few believed in that, the Toronto Raptors have defeated Los Angeles Lakers at Staples this Sunday night. The final result, 113-104 for the Canadian team.
The reigning champions proved wrong all those who doubted in their will and quality. Without Kyle Lowry, who fractured his thumb, and Serge Ibaka with a sprained ankle, they beat arguably the biggest favorites for winning the title. But it didn’t happen that way.
LeBron James said it best after the game.
“They’ve still got championship players over there.”
And the King was right. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet took matters in their own hands, and with massive help from other teammates, pulled off a huge win.
Siakam had a team-high 24 points, with 11 boards, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. VanVleet was behind him with one point fewer but with 10 assists and 7 rebounds, all of them defensive.
“Playing hard is the most important thing, and that’s what we did,” said Siakam. “Everyone is understanding their role and playing to their strength.”
The Raptors had a big fourth quarter, during which they turned the result upside down. The Lakers previously held the lead since the opening period, but eventually, the purple and gold slowed down.
With 1:51 to go in the second, LAL was 11 points up, and it seemed that they have everything under control. But sometime during the midway of the next sequence, the guests woke up and started performing better on both sides of the court. It is how they erased the lead and entered the decisive frame leveled with the hosts, 78-78. Siakam and the guys would then create a 19-8 burst but were also on the verge of losing the edge gained.
Kyle Kuzma sparked the Lakers with two straight threes, and the hosts delivered 8 unanswered points. Nurse’s crew rebuffed that attack, with a 7-0 run, pretty much shocking the crowd at Staples.
“They were the better team tonight, for sure. We had good opportunities to win the game, but they turned up in that fourth quarter,” said LeBron.
King James posted a triple-double but didn’t have an expected impact on the game. With 15 points, 15 assists, and 13 boards, the Lakers lacked his offensive contribution, especially since there weren’t any of his teammates to step in and help Anthony Davis.
The Eyebrow had 27 points and 8 boards, and the only one worth mentioning websites these two was Kuzma with 15 points off the bench.
For the guests, Norman Powell contributed with 14 points in one of his rare games as a starter. Terence Davis had 13, while Chris Boucher played the match of the season, with 15 points off the bench, and an excellent defense. He had three blocks, one of them on LeBron.
The Raptors (7-2) are staying in LA, as they face the Clippers next already this Monday. It will be the first time that Kawhi Leonard plays against the Canadians after the last year’s finals. After that, they play with the Trail Blazers and Mavericks, both on the road.
Meanwhile, the Lakers (7-2) have a road game in Phoenix against the Suns on Tuesday.
