Raptors’ inconsistent play results in one other loss to Celtics
Saturday’s recreation introduced one other wild and chaotic end for the Toronto Raptors, one suffering from inconsistencies that in the end left them with one other loss. This time it got here by the hands of the short-handed Boston Celtics, who got here away with a 106-104 win at Scotiabank Area.
It was an evening of runs from each groups. For the Raptors, it was their effort on the defensive finish that proved to be their greatest weak spot, because the Celtics noticed them crumble in lapses. Head coach Nick Nurse says it was both the Raptors had been enjoying nice defence by swarming the paint, or permitting straight line drives to the rim. It helped Boston get simple appears or kick-outs for large threes, which proved to be pivotal, particularly late.
“It was actually an excessive amount of hit or miss,” mentioned Nurse, noting that his staff must be extra “constant over the 48,” to assist them safe their leads late in video games.
Pascal Siakam, who completed with a game-high 29 factors on 14-of-23 taking pictures, echoed related ideas on the staff’s play, contributing to their general woes for the season.
“So many of those video games I really feel like we did loads of good issues, however then a few errors right here and there, and also you get what you pay for,” Siakam mentioned. “It sucks, as a result of I really feel like there’s undoubtedly loads of video games we might have gained. We chip away and play higher and higher, however we’ve got to translate to profitable.”
It marks one other unhealthy loss for the Raptors in a season that appears outlined by them, as they now sit with a 20-27 document, their worst for the reason that 2012-13 season by means of 37 video games, and good for eleventh within the Jap Convention.
“It is laborious particularly while you get so far the place each recreation is necessary and also you attempt to scratch and discover wins,” mentioned Siakam. “So all the pieces feels so heavy. We received to only take that duty and know that each possession counts and it results in profitable, so we received to do something that we will.”
For moments in Saturday’s matchup, it seemed just like the Raptors had been going to have the ability to come away with a win. Nonetheless, errors that now appear predictable introduced them down.
They entered the fourth quarter up 85-81, thanks partly to huge performances from Siakam and Treasured Achiuwa. Nurse opted to relaxation them for the beginning of the fourth, and the Celtics capitalized. Boston opened the ultimate quarter with a 9-0 run to take a lead. It was primarily behind missed defensive rotations, resulting in 3-pointers, and poor pictures on the Raptors’ offensive aspect of the ground.
After a timeout to get the ahead duo again within the recreation, and a few back-and-forth, the Raptors responded with a 10-2 run of their very own to tie it at 103, thanks partly to a pair of clutch 3-pointers from Gary Trent Jr., who completed with 22 factors.
Following a Payton Pritchard 3-pointer (certainly one of 4 he had within the closing body) and Siakam going 1-of-2 on the free-throw line, the insanity went into full bloom within the closing 25 seconds of Saturday’s matchup.
With the Raptors down 106-104, Trent Jr. made a robust assault to beat Grant Williams for a wide-open shot on the basket — one which he painfully missed, and left Williams hobbled on the bottom. Trent Jr.’s hustle to get again on defence, and his anticipation, helped him safe a steal at halfcourt. With the Raptors’ having a 5-on-4 benefit, Nurse referred to as a questionable timeout.
“I simply felt like there was a bit wildness occurring,” mentioned Nurse. “I simply needed to get it settled down.”
Siakam tried to even issues up with a layup, however as an alternative received snarled with Al Horford, resulting in a leap ball. On what Nurse says was recommendation from referee Michael Smith, the Raptors head coach referred to as a timeout with the only real objective to problem the decision. In a change of occasions, Nurse says he was then in the end advised by referee Ed Malloy that he could not name for a problem on a leap ball. To make issues worse, as an alternative of holding his final timeout, the Raptors had been pressured to make use of it, which might show expensive moments later.
Hortford would go on to win the tip, however Scottie Barnes secured the ball. As a substitute of getting one other shot, Horford and Barnes received snarled. The Celtics would win the second leap ball as effectively and name a timeout.
With the ball superior up the ground, the Celtics simply wanted to get it in. As a substitute, Williams dedicated an offensive foul, giving the Raptors one other possession with 3.8 seconds left. As a substitute of having the ability to name a timeout and advance the ball themselves, Siakam needed to convey the ball up the ground. He was in the end met with a profitable double staff from the Celtics, who stripped the ball away and secured a win.
It was a gritty show from the Celtics, who sit with the perfect document within the NBA at 35-12. Towards the Raptors, they had been with out their celebrity in Jayson Tatum, and likewise two of their starters in Marcus Good and Robert Williams III for the second half as a result of accidents. Together with Pritchard, Williams and Malcolm Brogdon stepped up, combining for 48 factors (7-of-11 from 3) off the bench.
The Celtics needed to climate spectacular performances from Siakam and Achiuwa. The previous had a masterful efficiency Saturday, dicing up the Celtics within the midrange. After beginning the sport 1-of-5 from the sphere, he completed sturdy the remainder of the best way going 13-of-18. Together with the 29 factors, he had 9 rebounds, 10 assists and an emphatic block.
Achiuwa had arguably his greatest recreation of the season, totalling 17 factors, 11 rebounds and three blocks in 37 minutes — probably the most he’s performed since coming back from harm to begin 2023.
He additionally helped comprise Brown, who opened the primary body with 13 factors. Achiuwa was then tasked as his main defender, serving to decelerate the All-Star guard, who completed with 27 factors, however on 10-of-23 taking pictures from the sphere.
“His battle and compete stage had been nearly as good as they may very well be,” Nurse mentioned about Achiuwa whose efficiency on Saturday sits as a brilliant spot because the Raptors inch nearer with uncertainty across the NBA’s Feb. 9 commerce deadline.
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