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onsdag, november 29, 2023

Raptors look misplaced in crunch time as Nets prevail in group stage finale


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One other evening towards one other middling staff that greatest describes the Raptors, one other recreation that wouldn’t be determined till crunch time.

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This one concerned a date in Brooklyn towards the host Nets, whose jerseys meshed nicely with the court docket’s interesting color tones.

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Sunday in Cleveland, the Raptors have been rocked by the Cavs when Toronto couldn’t convert from the road.

The staff’s woes from the charity stripe spilled into Tuesday evening’s tip, which became a one-possession recreation with two minutes remaining earlier than the Nets pulled out a 115-103 victory in In-Season Event play.

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As soon as once more, Toronto’s deficiency in shot-making stood out. Lowered to heaving threes, the Raptors weren’t able to making practically sufficient, in the end succumbing to the Nets. Scottie Barnes couldn’t purchase a basket and neither may Pascal Siakam as the sport obtained away from the Raptors within the closing minute in a barrage of missed photographs and lengthy faces.

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A nook three by the Raptors beat the buzzer, nevertheless it was far too little and much too late.

Ok to hold round on most nights, similar to Tuesday when execution on each ends of the ground was demanded and required, the Raptors as soon as once more confirmed incapable of stringing collectively consecutive possessions when a win was inside their grasp.

The evening marked the top of the NBA’s In-Season Event group stage. Having already been eradicated, the Raptors have been, in concept, forged within the position of spoiler, despite the fact that the sport counted within the common standings.

Sooner or later late Tuesday evening, the NBA was anticipated to launch dates for groups, such because the Raptors, that didn’t advance.

Toronto is house to the Knicks on Dec. 1 after which go to New York on Dec. 11. One house date, doubtless on Dec. 6, and one away, doubtless on Dec. 8, ought to be made official.

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JAK ATTACK

The affable Austrian, higher often called Jakob Poeltl, entered the evening on an unimaginable run of ending across the rim, a six-game interval that noticed the large man convert on 34 of 38 field-goal makes an attempt.

Getting into the evening, no participant within the NBA shot higher than Poeltl’s 72.7%. As with all quantity, context is required.

Suffice to say, Poeltl is not going to beat groups along with his jumper, but when he’s capable of function close to the rim, he can rating. Whereas he can knock down a spot-up jumper from mid-range, Poeltl’s candy spot will be discovered close to the basket, whether or not he’s rolling to the rim, scoring on put-backs or posting up by sealing his defender.

In opposition to the Nets, he gained the opening tip. On the sport’s first set, Poeltl had the ball on the block, the place he made an ideal go into the lane to OG Anunoby, who couldn’t convert.

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The miss set the tone as the sport’s early phases became a brickfest. The truth is, the groups mixed to overlook 17 photographs on 22 makes an attempt throughout a stretch that featured a complete of 13 factors.

Poeltl’s first try got here with 5:27 left within the opening interval, when he buried an eight-foot floater.

The sport’s opening 12 minutes ended with the Nets main, 22-21, with the groups combining to go 2-for-16 from past the arc.

Within the second quarter, Poeltl scored on a layup after which initiated a quick break after he recorded a block. His third basket got here on a two-foot dunk. A uncommon miss, this from eight toes, got here with 1:12 left within the half.

By the top of the evening, Poeltl was on the bench when the sport was perimeter centric, which doesn’t swimsuit his recreation.

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TRES BIEN, BOUCHER

The Raptors obtained a giant second-quarter increase from Chris Boucher.

Nearly from the second he entered the sport, Boucher had a bounce to his recreation. His vitality was definitely contagious and far wanted, particularly after Treasured Achiuwa picked up three fouls.

Boucher scored eight factors in a four-minute stretch, which included two makes from distance.

Phoenix missed seven photographs in a row to assist the Raptors construct a seven-point lead.

Fact be advised, Boucher ought to have performed greater than the six minutes he obtained within the opening half. Boucher was a team-high plus-9 on the break because the guests discovered themselves in an eight-point gap after Brooklyn went on a 15-0 run to finish the half.

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KD IN T.O.?

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For his first and solely go to to the 6ix, Kevin Durant stays a query mark with the Phoenix Suns paying a go to to Scotiabank Area on Wednesday evening.

Typically thought to be one of many biggest scorers the NBA has seen, Durant has saved a few of his most dramatic moments for Toronto.

The Suns wrap up a three-game highway journey Wednesday after beating the Knicks in Gotham on Sunday. Phoenix practised in New York on Tuesday earlier than winging it throughout the border.

The person merely recognized by his initials is nursing a sore foot. Durant ranks second in league scoring (31.4 PPG) and is atop the affiliation in three-point effectivity (52.2%).

The scorching Suns come to city driving a seven-game win streak, fuelled by Devin Booker’s return following a calf pressure. Within the Large Apple, Booker drilled the game-winner on a three-ball with 1.7 ticks remaining.

The third member of the Suns’ massive three, Bradley Beal, didn’t accompany the staff on its journey as he continues to take care of a wonky again.

Beal was inactive for Phoenix’s first seven video games to start the season after which returned to the inactive record after enjoying three video games, his most up-to-date look arriving on Nov. 12 in a house loss to Oklahoma Metropolis as Beal made six photographs and turned the ball over 5 instances.

fzicarelli@postmedia.com

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