After losing three games in a row, the reigning NBA champions, Toronto Raptors finally posted a win. Nick Nurse’s side was better than Phoenix Suns on the road, 123-114, stopping the longest negative streak since the start of the season.
The key moments of the match happened in the third period, when Pascal Siakam scored 12 of his 33 points, moving his team from a deficit to a one-point lead. Phoenix was up 17 points during the second sequence, but the guests managed to overcome all those adversities and post their 43rd triumph of the season.
“I had enough of that and kind of tried to rally the troops there to start the second quarter — we’re not going to play this way,” Nurse said. “They responded and played great.”
The Raps allowed 39 points in the opening period, and without a doubt, that was arguably their worst 12 minutes since the start of the season. The Suns to had 77% for two points, 10-for-13, and to hit five threes in 10 shots. What is one of the best defenses in the league lost control on the court, but as said, regained it as time went by.
We need to point out, that the guests from Canada again had problems in rotation. Fred VanVleet, Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka skipped this event, and that shortened the depth of the champs.
Chirs Boucher jumped in and did one hell of a job. In 29 minutes, Toronto’s power forward scored 19 points and had 15 boards, team-high, presenting a dominant force on both ends of the court. He had six offensive boards.
Siakam scored a game-high 33 buckets, with five threes, 7 boards, and two blocks. Kyle Lowry added 28 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Norman Powell ended the night with 26 points.
The Suns also had shortened rotation, and just eight players appeared on the floor. Devin Booker posted a team-high 22 points with 10 assists, having one point more than the rookie Cameron Johnson with 21 buckets. The small forward from North Carolina had five threes also, and 4 boards.
Ricky Rubio delivered 16 points and 10 assists, while DeAndre Ayton also recorded a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds. The hosts played without Kelly Oubre Jr., who underwent a torn meniscus surgery.
This was the fourth straight defeat for the Suns, who had a solid period before this negative streak. Still, head coach Monty Williams didn’t have anything bad to say about his players.
“I hate the result — it will have me up late tonight,” Williams said. “But I cannot be frustrated at all about the approach this morning, the focus on the floor. Defensively we were locked in, we moved the ball early, we played hard.”
Phoenix (24-38) awaits the Portland Trail Blazers and the Milwaukee Bucks next Friday and Sunday.
As for the Raptors (43-18), they have three more games on this road trip, the first taking place in San Francisco against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday. The rest two are against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday ad the Utah Jazz the following night.
