TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors could have ideas of Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen dancing of their heads over the NBA’s vacation break.
Clarkson scored 16 of his 30 factors within the fourth quarter and Markkanen added 9 of his 30 within the remaining body because the Utah Jazz rallied previous Toronto 126-119 on Saturday. The Raptors led by as many as 17 factors within the first three quarters earlier than getting outscored 41-21 within the fourth.
“It’s robust, clearly, as a result of we felt it was a winnable recreation but it surely form of bought away from us,” mentioned all-star Pascal Siakam about not taking part in once more till Wednesday in Washington. “I believe it’s gonna stink, however not a lot you are able to do, we’ve bought to only transfer on to the following one.
“Get some days to chill out, get your thoughts off it a little bit bit after which come again and attempt to rectify what we didn’t do effectively on the market.”
Siakam had 19 factors and 9 rebounds in his five hundredth profession recreation for the Raptors. He joined DeMar DeRozan (675), Kyle Lowry (601), Morris Peterson (542), José Calderón (525) and Chris Bosh (509) as the one gamers to look in 500 video games with Toronto.
“I’m simply grateful to have the ability to play the sport,” mentioned Siakam. “To play 500 video games, for somebody like me, it’s not given each single day so that you’ve bought to be grateful.
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“I’m simply blessed that I’m in a position to try this and I hope I can play much more.”
Scottie Barnes had a double-double with 14 rebounds and matched his profession excessive of 32 factors as Toronto (11-18) misplaced its third straight. OG Anunoby added 19 factors.
Barnes had 24 of his factors within the first half, however Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic was optimistic regardless of the ahead’s drop-off within the recreation’s vital fourth.
“He misplaced a little bit little bit of momentum there with a few (missed) pictures,” mentioned Rajakovic. “I assumed a few of these pictures have been good pictures as effectively.”
Markkanen additionally had 9 rebounds and 5 assists in Utah’s (12-18) comeback.
Barnes had 17 factors, together with three three-pointers, within the first quarter as Toronto constructed a 34-31 lead. It was a brand new career-high in factors for Barnes in a primary quarter, topping the 15 he had in Los Angeles in opposition to the Lakers on March 14, 2022.
“I used to be simply taking broad open pictures,” mentioned Barnes. “They have been serving to so much — there was straightforward kickouts and the pictures have been falling.”
Anunoby’s two-handed dunk with 5:24 left within the second introduced the 19,420 at Scotiabank Area to their toes and capped off a 12-2 run that prolonged Toronto’s result in 16 factors. The Raptors held a 71-55 lead at intermission.
Gary Trent Jr. drilled a three-pointer for the ultimate rating of the third quarter as Toronto maintained its edge over the guests to take a 98-85 lead into the ultimate body.
Utah opened the fourth with a 10-0 run to tug inside three factors of the Raptors till Barnes dished out his fifth help of the evening to Chris Boucher, who sank a nook three with 9:04 to go.
The Jazz didn’t relent, nevertheless, with Clarkson making a put-back tip shot to tie it 104-104 with 6:44 to go. After a Raptors timeout, Markkanen made a discipline aim for Utah’s first lead of the sport.
Schroeder responded with an 18-foot jumper to tie it up, however Markkanen had his personal jumper after which Ochal Agbaji hit two free throws for a four-point Jazz lead.
Markkanen and Clarkson poured it on with back-to-back threes as Utah had one other run within the fourth.
Barnes made a two-foot shot to match his profession excessive and breathe life into the Raptors trustworthy. However with the group loudly chanting “DE-FENCE!” Siakam fouled Clarkson past the arc and the Jazz guard made all three of his free throws for a nine-point lead with 91 seconds left within the recreation.
Clarkson hit one other three with 29 seconds left to play as followers began heading for the exits.
Siakam had a layup, however Sexton made his two free throws, earlier than Toronto level guard Dennis Schroder sank a three-pointer for the sport’s remaining rating.
OLYNYK HOMECOMING — Jazz ahead Kelly Olynyk, who was born in Toronto however raised in Kamloops, B.C., mentioned tickets to Saturday’s recreation have been in excessive demand amongst his household and mates.
“Mainly, as many as you will get,” mentioned Olynyk. “If I may purchase two extra I may have two extra individuals right here.”
UP NEXT — Utah continues its street journey with a cease in San Antonio on Boxing Day.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Dec. 23, 2023.
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