(Photograph credit score: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Photos)
The Toronto Raptors will attempt to earn their fifth straight dwelling victory Thursday evening in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
The primary and fourth wins of this streak at dwelling got here in opposition to the Indiana Pacers. The Raptors beat the Pacers 130-119 on November 18 and once more on Tuesday 122-111.
They’ll face a tenacious protection in opposition to the Thunder, who’ve received 5 of six after beating the visiting Utah Jazz 133-106 on Tuesday. Oklahoma Metropolis used a swarming protection to attain 45 factors off 29 Utah turnovers.
Scottie Barnes and RJ Barnett are anticipated to steer Toronto’s offense as soon as once more. Barnes had a career-high 35 factors Tuesday and Barrett added 29. Jakob Poeltl (17 factors, 10 rebounds) had his thirteenth double-double of the season. Toronto shot 54.3 % from the sector.
The Raptors suppose they’re studying to shut out video games despite the fact that they noticed their 24-point third-quarter lead dwindle to 2 factors with 6:36 left within the fourth quarter.
“We actually targeted on our offensive and defensive efficiency,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic stated. “I believed our execution within the final 4 to 5 minutes was actually, actually good. I feel we’re getting higher in that facet.”
Barrett stated: “I feel we’re simply beginning to determine easy methods to win a few of these video games on the finish. We have additionally performed job from the beginning and given ourselves a lead, in order that even when groups do a let’s run, we’re nonetheless going properly, as an alternative of simply going all the way in which down.
Barnes stated the membership gained depth within the remaining interval.
“That fourth quarter, we did an excellent job of locking down, getting stops, the stops that have been actually wanted,” Barnes stated. “We did not foul as a lot as we did within the third quarter. When it got here down to actually attempting to cease and focus and lock down, we all know we did that.”
The Raptors improved to 6-4 at dwelling however are 1-11 on the highway.
Toronto dedicated 21 turnovers in opposition to the Pacers on Tuesday and can battle to do higher in opposition to the Thunder.
“Everyone seems to be in search of the ball and attempting to get it,” stated Cason Wallace, who had 12 factors and was one among 4 Thunder gamers with three steals every Tuesday.
“We did job early within the recreation being bodily and I feel that set the tone,” stated Jalen Williams, who had 28 factors and three steals. “Once we can do this early, we’re normally superb at sustaining that all through the sport.”
The Thunder completed with 18 steals. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 26 factors and three steals and Aaron Wiggins had 16 factors and three steals.
The Thunder shot 52 % from the sector.
“We simply performed with loads of freedom — in a great way — on the courtroom, sharing the ball and actually feeding off one another’s power,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault stated. “We have been fast with the ball to get it down the courtroom after which we have been energetic on the finishes. That is what we wish to appear like in a recreation the place we have now somewhat little bit of a feeding frenzy with the turnovers.”
The Thunder are 7-3 on the highway.
Oklahoma Metropolis received each video games in opposition to Toronto final season, with one of many victories coming in time beyond regulation.
–Subject degree media
