Chaining trips to the West is going pretty well for the Raptors. New confirmation tonight with a fourth straight win against a team from the other conference, the Lakers. A much quieter success than the final score suggests because Toronto led by 20 points for the majority of the game. This is a new disappointment for the Californians who remained on two straight wins at home.
The Canadians took control of this game, going 9-0 from the start, never to let them go. Carried by their tandem Scottie Barnes – Pascal Siakam, the Raptors turned very largely in the lead after a first quarter (12-33) almost fatal to the Lakers.
Because the latter, despite the good offensive intentions of LeBron James and a few lieutenants, were never really able to stop the opposing attack. Result: Toronto, which brought the gap up to 28 units, had an 18-point lead at the break (40-58), then another 20 twelve minutes later (71-91). An exchange of baskets in good and due form in short.
The trio LeBron James – Talen Horton-Tucker – Carmelo Anthony however gave themselves until the last moments to reduce the gap under ten units two minutes from the end (97-106). This will be insufficient in the face of confident Canadians.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– A hell of a first quarter. 12 points scored, 3/25 on shots including 0/13 from 3-pointers… The Lakers started the game in the worst possible way by signing the worst quarter of their season. Or how to shoot yourself in the foot from the start.
– inner dominance. In the absence of Dwight Howard (personal reasons), the Lakers did not even have a pivot on the score sheet. This was widely felt against Toronto’s long and athletic wingers who feasted to gain access to the circle. In addition to a big point differential in the racket in their favor (54 to 36), the visitors, also without a professional pivot, dominated the fight in rebounds hands down (64-43).
– The big playing time of major players. Nick Nurse is known for that. Despite the turn of events, he mobilized all of his holders for 33 minutes or more. Special mentions to Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes with 40 minutes of play! Opposite, Frank Vogel believed in it until the end to decide to offer only eight minutes of rest to LeBron James… who was however uncertain before the meeting because of his knee.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Scottie Barnes. The beginning of the meeting canon of his team is linked to his: 15 points at 7/7 on shots in the first minutes of the meeting! The Raptors rookie cut through the opposing defense with his multiple circle attacks before slowing the pace over the next three quarters.
✅ Pascal Siakam. 22nd double-double of the season for the strong winger who also shone with his circle attacks and confirmed his big month of March in progress with 26 points (49%), 7 rebounds and 5 average assists.
✅ Talen Horton-Tucker. One of the few Lakers to finish with a positive scoring impact. Author of a good end to the match, he reached the bar of 20 points for the first time in two months.
⛔ Fred VanVleet. A complete match and a very positive impact on the score but an evening of automatic watering for the All-Star leader of the Raptors who, embarrassed by his knee, has struggled to continue since his time at the All-Star Game.
THE FOLLOWING
Lakers (29-39) : trip to Wolves, Wednesday.
Raptors (38-30) : trip to the Clippers, Wednesday.
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