The Oklahoma City Thunder look to extend their winning streak to four games Friday against the undermanned Toronto Raptors.
Chet Holmgren had 35 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday night as the Western Conference-leading Thunder (48-20) beat the visiting Utah Jazz 119-107.
The Raptors (23-46), meanwhile, lost their eighth straight game Wednesday, 123-89 to the visiting Sacramento Kings. Immanuel Quickley (personnel) was added to the Raptors’ long list of sidelines on Wednesday.
The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, born in Toronto and originally from Hamilton, Ontario, will enter Friday’s game in Canada having scored 31 points and seven assists against the Jazz.
Gilgeous-Alexander became the 13th player in NBA history to score 30 or more points 50 times in a single season. He is the fifth to do so in the last 35 seasons, joining Michael Jordan (twice), James Harden, Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady.
Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic believes his team still has a good attitude despite the difficulties.
“It’s just a desire to do better,” Rajakovic said. “Everyone is eager to perform better, to compete better. Many players play outside of their role and what they are not used to.
“And no one expects this group to be anything they’re not, but they really have to be stars in their role. They have to do little things for each other and that’s really going to help them perform better and be competitive in all of these games.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 18 points Wednesday for the Raptors, who have lost 10 of their last 11 games.
Quickley was added to the list of missing players that includes Scottie Barnes (hand), Jakob Poeltl (finger), RJ Barrett (personal), Chris Boucher (knee) and DJ Carton (ankle).
“When you go through situations like this, it takes time and it doesn’t happen overnight,” Rajakovic said. “And we had a few games where we were very competitive against good teams. Tonight, that wasn’t the case.
“We also missed Immanuel Quickley, adding to the list, and then during the game we lost Jontay Porter. [illness] Also. We’re just going down the home stretch and, you know, we’re pretty skinny right now.
