Raptors Rally, Defeat Kings At Home
The Toronto Raptors defeated the Sacramento Kings, 120-105, at Air Canada Centre on Tuesday.
The Raptors (36-13) once again showed why they are one of the top teams in the NBA during the 2018-19 season, as they came from behind against a surprising Kings (24-24) that seemed eager to leave their recent ugly loss on the rear view. Sacramento quickly jumped ahead on the score and they were up by five (34-29) following the first quarter, something that seemed to surprise many fans in attendance. But the Raptors turned things around rather quickly and once they got in control of the game, they didn't slip it away. Toronto won the second quarter by nine points (31-22) so they went up by four (60-56) at the break, and later closed things out in the second half. The Raptors won the remaining two quarters, 28-22 and 32-27 respectively, as they ended cruising their way towards a relatively comfortable win.
The Raptors had a balanced scoring output in this game since they had six players scoring in double figures, but none reaching the 20-point threshold. The absence of Kawhi Leonard didn't impact the side and the guard duo of Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry led the way for Toronto since both had 19 points. Serge Ibaka had 15 points with 10 boards, and Pascal Siakam 18 points. CJ Miles chipped in with 15 points off the bench.
The Kings had seven players scoring over 10 points and they owned the highest scorer of the contest since Marvin Bagley III finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic filled the stat sheet nicely since he contributed 16 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and three steals to the losing cause. Buddy Hield added 11 points as well.
The Raptors (36-13) once again showed why they are one of the top teams in the NBA during the 2018-19 season, as they came from behind against a surprising Kings (24-24) that seemed eager to leave their recent ugly loss on the rear view. Sacramento quickly jumped ahead on the score and they were up by five (34-29) following the first quarter, something that seemed to surprise many fans in attendance. But the Raptors turned things around rather quickly and once they got in control of the game, they didn't slip it away. Toronto won the second quarter by nine points (31-22) so they went up by four (60-56) at the break, and later closed things out in the second half. The Raptors won the remaining two quarters, 28-22 and 32-27 respectively, as they ended cruising their way towards a relatively comfortable win.
The Raptors had a balanced scoring output in this game since they had six players scoring in double figures, but none reaching the 20-point threshold. The absence of Kawhi Leonard didn't impact the side and the guard duo of Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry led the way for Toronto since both had 19 points. Serge Ibaka had 15 points with 10 boards, and Pascal Siakam 18 points. CJ Miles chipped in with 15 points off the bench.
The Kings had seven players scoring over 10 points and they owned the highest scorer of the contest since Marvin Bagley III finished with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Bogdan Bogdanovic filled the stat sheet nicely since he contributed 16 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and three steals to the losing cause. Buddy Hield added 11 points as well.
Thunder Topples Trail Blazers, 123-114
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 123-114, at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Tuesday evening.
The Thunder (29-18) found the Trail Blazers (29-20) to be a feisty bunch early, as the two teams were deadlocked at 25 after one. OKC managed to build a seven-point lead by halftime, They ultimately entered the fourth quarter with a six-point lead and held it, even as Portland got as close as 109-106 with 5:08 remaining. The home squad drained an impressive 50.6 percent of their attempts and also elicited 19 turnovers from the Blazers, with both being keys to victory.
Damian Lillard led the way for the Trail Blazers with 34 points, adding eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. C.J. McCollum supplied 31 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included one assist, two blocks and one steal. Al-Farouq Aminu mustered just four points but also hauled in 13 rebounds and dished out four assists. Meyers Leonard paced the second unit with nine points.
Paul George paced the Thunder with 36 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, four assists, five steals and one block. Russell Westbrook turned in 29 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, adding one steal. Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson contributed matching 14-point tallies, with Adams notably pulling down eight boards and Ferguson recording four steals. Dennis Schroder posted a bench-leading 13 points. Jerami Grant finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two steals and one block.
The Trail Blazers remain on the road and tangle with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, while the Thunder remains home and takes on the Pelicans on Thursday evening as well.
The Thunder (29-18) found the Trail Blazers (29-20) to be a feisty bunch early, as the two teams were deadlocked at 25 after one. OKC managed to build a seven-point lead by halftime, They ultimately entered the fourth quarter with a six-point lead and held it, even as Portland got as close as 109-106 with 5:08 remaining. The home squad drained an impressive 50.6 percent of their attempts and also elicited 19 turnovers from the Blazers, with both being keys to victory.
Damian Lillard led the way for the Trail Blazers with 34 points, adding eight assists, five rebounds and five steals. C.J. McCollum supplied 31 points, three rebounds, three assists and one block. Jusuf Nurkic generated a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double that also included one assist, two blocks and one steal. Al-Farouq Aminu mustered just four points but also hauled in 13 rebounds and dished out four assists. Meyers Leonard paced the second unit with nine points.
Paul George paced the Thunder with 36 points, supplementing them with eight rebounds, four assists, five steals and one block. Russell Westbrook turned in 29 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds, adding one steal. Steven Adams and Terrance Ferguson contributed matching 14-point tallies, with Adams notably pulling down eight boards and Ferguson recording four steals. Dennis Schroder posted a bench-leading 13 points. Jerami Grant finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two steals and one block.
The Trail Blazers remain on the road and tangle with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night, while the Thunder remains home and takes on the Pelicans on Thursday evening as well.
Mavericks Defeat Clippers, 106-98
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, 106-98, at American Airlines Center on Tuesday.
This game was competitive throughout, as neither team led by more than 10 points. In fact, there were 14 ties and 19 lead changes in total. Dallas made the run that mattered most though, as they finished the game on a 16-7 run, after trailing by one point with 5:30 remaining. The Mavericks defense was key, as they held the Clippers to 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range while winning the defensive rebounding differential, 38-27. Dallas ended up shooting 47 percent from the field while winning the points in the paint battle, 44-32. In addition, the Mavericks won the points off turnover differential, 23-4.
The Clippers (25-22) were led by Patrick Beverley, as he tallied 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Avery Bradley totaled 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Montrezl Harrell accrued 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Lou Williams led the bench with 15 points and four assists.
The Mavericks (21-26) were led by Harrison Barnes, as he amassed 20 points and two boards. Luka Doncic finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Dennis Smith Jr. returned to action to provide 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. DeAndre Jordan punished his former team by collecting 13 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and five blocks.
Los Angeles has a tough task ahead of them, as they play the second half of a back-to-back set against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. As for Dallas, they're off until Friday when they play host to the Detroit Pistons.
This game was competitive throughout, as neither team led by more than 10 points. In fact, there were 14 ties and 19 lead changes in total. Dallas made the run that mattered most though, as they finished the game on a 16-7 run, after trailing by one point with 5:30 remaining. The Mavericks defense was key, as they held the Clippers to 37 percent from the field and 29 percent from three-point range while winning the defensive rebounding differential, 38-27. Dallas ended up shooting 47 percent from the field while winning the points in the paint battle, 44-32. In addition, the Mavericks won the points off turnover differential, 23-4.
The Clippers (25-22) were led by Patrick Beverley, as he tallied 16 points, nine rebounds and three assists. Avery Bradley totaled 15 points, five rebounds and three assists. Montrezl Harrell accrued 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Lou Williams led the bench with 15 points and four assists.
The Mavericks (21-26) were led by Harrison Barnes, as he amassed 20 points and two boards. Luka Doncic finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Dennis Smith Jr. returned to action to provide 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists. DeAndre Jordan punished his former team by collecting 13 points, 16 rebounds, four assists and five blocks.
Los Angeles has a tough task ahead of them, as they play the second half of a back-to-back set against the Miami Heat on Wednesday. As for Dallas, they're off until Friday when they play host to the Detroit Pistons.
Timberwolves Demolish Suns, 118-91
By Oscar Heanue
The Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the Phoenix Suns, 118-91, at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Tuesday.
It was an emphatic victory for the Timberwolves (23-24), who never let up after going on a big run in the second quarter. Phoenix (11-38) never led, but managed to tie the game early in the period. The Wolves quickly changed that, though, as 10 points in the quarter from Karl-Anthony Towns helped spark a run that gave Minnesota a 15-point lead by halftime. The Timberwolves continued their domination in the second half, going on a quick run to start the third quarter and holding Phoenix to just 42 second-half points.
Towns finished as Minnesota's leading scorer with 25 points. His impact went far beyond the scoring column, however, as he added 18 rebounds and seven assists. The star big man's play was complemented by the performance of Josh Okogie. The rookie point guard finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Phoenix, meanwhile, saw a promising showing from sophomore wing Josh Jackson. Jackson helped tie the game up with a pair of free-throws in the second, which gave him two of his team-high 27 points. He added 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Both teams will take the court again on Thursday, with Phoenix playing host to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Timberwolves taking a trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.
It was an emphatic victory for the Timberwolves (23-24), who never let up after going on a big run in the second quarter. Phoenix (11-38) never led, but managed to tie the game early in the period. The Wolves quickly changed that, though, as 10 points in the quarter from Karl-Anthony Towns helped spark a run that gave Minnesota a 15-point lead by halftime. The Timberwolves continued their domination in the second half, going on a quick run to start the third quarter and holding Phoenix to just 42 second-half points.
Towns finished as Minnesota's leading scorer with 25 points. His impact went far beyond the scoring column, however, as he added 18 rebounds and seven assists. The star big man's play was complemented by the performance of Josh Okogie. The rookie point guard finished with 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Phoenix, meanwhile, saw a promising showing from sophomore wing Josh Jackson. Jackson helped tie the game up with a pair of free-throws in the second, which gave him two of his team-high 27 points. He added 10 rebounds and three blocks.
Both teams will take the court again on Thursday, with Phoenix playing host to the Portland Trail Blazers and the Timberwolves taking a trip to Los Angeles to face the Lakers.