Kawhi Leonard continues dominance of Raptors in thrilling battle in Los Angeles

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The Toronto Raptors may need to study what life is like with out Pascal Siakam later this season they usually received a style of it on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles.

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The Raptors confirmed little indicators of fatigue regardless of taking part in an evening earlier and on this one with out two starters, actually, the tempo was all out from the beginning in a recreation that whip-sawed backwards and forwards all night. Although the guests fell brief, 126-120 to the Los Angeles Clippers, they have been full marks effort-wise, hanging round for a lot of the night in a recreation that featured 20 lead modifications within the first half and 15 extra within the third quarter earlier than the Clippers managed to outlive within the fourth.

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Previous buddy Kawhi Leonard and operating mate Paul George had 29 factors apiece, Leonard improved to 14-2 all-time in opposition to Toronto and 55% capturing wasn’t sufficient for the Raptors to get the win.

Newcomers Immanuel Quickley (25 factors) and RJ Barrett (24) led the Raptors, whereas Dennis Schroder added 22.

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Already down beginning centre Jakob Poeltl, Toronto was additionally with out two-time All-NBA ahead Siakam, who sat resulting from again spasms. Siakam, who was been the topic of numerous commerce rumours courting to the low season, was undercut an evening earlier within the powerful one-point loss in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers and fell to the ground arduous. The entrance court docket absences left the Raptors with out the workforce’s main scorer, No. 2 and 4 rebounders, No. 4 help man and Poeltl was tied for the workforce lead in blocks and led all in discipline objective proportion.

The workforce went small of their place, beginning Schroder alongside Quickley, with veteran Thad Younger, 6-foot-8, beginning at centre for the second day in a row. The outcome was a monitor meet and the older Clippers managed to compete on the scoreboard, however had critical points slowing down Toronto’s offence. The Raptors shot 58% within the first half, however trailed by some extent when ex-Raptor Norman Powell hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer. Toronto reclaimed the benefit by some extent after a wild third quarter, however a 17-6 run to finish the third and begin the fourth put the Clippers in entrance for good, although one other late rally made it shut once more earlier than George sealed it with a three-pointer.

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Toronto was coming off a tricky loss to the Lakers, however at the very least received to remain in Los Angeles for the following recreation and that appeared to assist them keep contemporary, as did head coach Darko Rajakovic going deep into his remaining bench. Rookie massive man Jontay Porter confirmed flashes with 9 factors, seven rebounds and 4 assists in 18 minutes.

TROLL OR NO TROLL?

Solely the Clippers know for certain whether or not it was merely coincidental that Toronto was on the town the day Leonard was inked to a contract extension. Whereas there isn’t dangerous blood between the 2 franchises, the Raptors have been undoubtedly not thrilled to see Clippers executives like Lawrence Frank at just about each one in all their video games, making an attempt to get Leonard to note them, throughout his lone season as a Raptor. In fact Leonard left Toronto to go residence to the Raptors following the championship run. On Wednesday he agreed to an extension value a rumoured $152.4 million U.S. over three years with the Clippers.

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Whereas Leonard has battled accidents since becoming a member of the Clippers (he missed the complete 2021-22 season and performed in solely 52 video games in each the previous and following seasons), he’s returned to All-NBA kind and there was little doubt he’d be sticking round. In spite of everything, Clippers proprietor Steve Ballmer, the richest within the NBA, has spent $1.2 billion on a cutting-edge new enviornment for the membership set to open in 2024-25. Did anybody actually suppose he wouldn’t have an all-star lineup set to take the ground there?

“We’re thrilled to proceed our relationship with Kawhi,” Frank stated in an announcement. “He elevated our franchise from the second he arrived. We really feel lucky that Kawhi selected to hitch the Clippers 5 years in the past, and excited to maintain constructing with him.”

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DINO BITES

Barrett had averaged 21.4 factors, 7.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and shot 50% from three because the commerce, probably the greatest stretches of his profession. Solely Leonard and Rudy Homosexual scored extra factors of their first 5 video games as a Raptor than Barrett. Siakam had additionally been rolling, averaging 23.8 factors and capturing 61.1% from three. Poeltl had additionally been a lot improved … The Lakers shot the ultimate 19 free throws of Tuesday’s recreation … The Clippers function two Raptors from the championship workforce in Leonard and Norman Powell and Rajakovic coached each George and Westbrook when he was an assistant in Oklahoma Metropolis … The Raptors recorded at the very least 25 assists for a twenty sixth straight recreation, extending the franchise report and the present longest streak within the NBA … Toronto finishes this street journey on Friday in Utah in opposition to the surging Jazz.

@WolstatSun

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