TORONTO — Regardless of a late comeback, the Toronto Raptors didn’t have sufficient to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, dropping 125-118 on Saturday evening at Scotiabank Area.
When requested earlier than the sport what made the Mavericks distinctive, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković stored it easy:
“Luka Doncic. Kyrie Irving. Klay Thompson,” Rajaković mentioned with amusement. “It’s simply an impressive crew…three Corridor of Famers.”
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The trio lived as much as their popularity, with Doncic posting a 30-point triple-double, Irving dropping 29 and Thompson contributing 20, as all of them had durations all through the sport the place they confirmed off their prowess.
It regarded just like the Raptors have been going to fall utterly flat towards the defending Western Convention champions, as they trailed by 24 factors at 4:20 of the third. A couple of minutes earlier, Rajaković obtained a technical foul. It is a “secret” if its brilliance to the refs was truly meant to provide his crew a spark, however that is what it appeared to do, because the Raptors would go on a 34-16 run to finish the third and begin the fourth.
After taking the lead, Toronto scored 5 factors with 1:35 to play, behind Scottie Barnes orchestrating a balanced assault en path to a career-high 14 assists. However the Mavericks confirmed why they’re true contenders, closing the deal to safe their seventh straight victory.
“I do not suppose we performed arduous sufficient within the first half. I believe we performed very arduous within the second half… Towards any such opponent it’s important to be there for 48 minutes,” Rajaković mentioned, noting that the crew did not play arduous sufficient within the first half. I don’t have the precise “disposition” to start with.
For Dallas, Irving was trying to “ship a message” to start out the sport, Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd mentioned — an evaluation the star level guard later agreed with.
Irving began the primary quarter, scoring 16 factors on 4-5 capturing from distance. That concerned capitalizing on a no-look dish from Doncic, then hitting three bombs in 1:05.
Doncic stored his tempo within the second quarter as a distributor, the place he had 5 of his 11 assists, because the Mavericks started taking part in with a double-digit lead.
However in true Doncic vogue, he additionally hit a circus shot to finish the primary half and provides the Mavericks their greatest lead but, 70-54.
Doncic’s scorching capturing continued into the third quarter, the place he began the primary three minutes with three makes from downtown, serving to Dallas safe its first 20-point lead of the evening.
However because the Mavericks went up by 24 factors, that is when the Raptors hit their stride with their backs towards the wall.
“Only a change in vitality,” mentioned Gradey Dick, who completed with a team-high 27 factors, together with 15 within the second half. “Clearly when we have now vitality like that, the place persons are placing in additional effort, second likelihood factors, that vitality is contagious and it features that momentum.”
Main that cost was Barnes, who closed the third quarter with a three-ball to cap a 13-2 run to finish the sport. At six-foot-nine, Barnes has taken on extra level guard tasks, particularly with the continued absence of Immanuel Quickley, as a result of the crew would not have a “actual level guard,” mentioned Kelly Olynyk, who made his season debut after battling again ache to start out the yr.
Rajaković credit Barnes with “at all times making the precise resolution,” whether or not it’s attacking or discovering his teammates. To associate with his team-high 14 dimes and eight rebounds, he completed with 19 factors and a +10 plus/minus.
“I at all times emphasize that Scottie is without doubt one of the most selfless gamers I’ve been round,” Rajaković mentioned. “He’s some of the elite gamers on this league and we’re fortunate to have him.”
For Dick, he says Barnes is “a celebrity for a cause,” emphasizing how he is targeted on “bettering” the crew.
“It’s uncommon as of late to see a man like that, who desires to get assists and desires you to shoot them when he passes the ball,” the second-year guard mentioned. “It’s motivating, inspiring.”
When Olynyk returns, he mentions how impressed he has been with the expansion of the Raptors’ younger core, with the crew taking part in three rookies tonight. The one who significantly stood out was huge man Jonathan Mogbo, who had eight factors together with an distinctive alley-oop slam. Nevertheless, what stands out probably the most is his defensive versatility spending time guarding Doncic and Irving.
“His skillset will certainly complement mine, and mine will complement his, so I am trying ahead to that,” mentioned Olynyk, who expects to see Mogbo play extra alongside him on the second unit.
The loss to the extra proficient and skilled Mavericks drops the Raptors to a 7-17 file, adequate for twelfth place within the Jap Convention. Wanting forward, the Raptors might be again on Monday at Scotiabank Area, this time dealing with an Jap heavyweight, the New York Knicks.
