As is often the case this season, the Raptors had to deal with numerous absences on Sunday, with the new withdrawal of RJ Barrett, who was ill. And as is often the case this season, they fought with their weapons before falling, this time against the Rockets. However, the match started almost ideally with the big heat from Ja'Kobe Walter.
The rookie from Toronto asks no questions about drawing from afar, not always very well defended it is true by Houston. He scored the first 14 points for his team and launched the Canadians.
The visitors play backwards and chain together lost balls, one of the themes of the evening. The gap swelled to eleven units in the first quarter thanks to a 10-0 (24-13), then up to 14 points ahead of a new sequence of basketball mush from the Rockets. Ime Udoka released almost all of his five, while his team let nine balls slip away in the first act alone. The Rockets return to the game by tightening their defense in the second quarter. More intensity synonymous with a little more rhythm and success in attack, in particular for Jalen Green, 17 points at the break. The gap is only six points at the break (57-51).
Lost bullets by the shovel
And the return of the Rockets continues after returning from the locker room. They took the advantage for the first time at the start of the third quarter and dictated their law under the circle, where Toronto's interior suffered. And as the Raptors in turn begin to collect lost balls (21 on both sides in the end), Houston comes back for good. Dillon Brooks sets the tone in the circle attack, Chris Boucher responds with a good comeback at the end of the third period (10 points in four minutes) to keep the two teams back to back.
The Rockets once thought they had done the hardest part by insisting near the opposing circle, when Toronto had a small offensive slump (94-105 with five minutes to play). But the Raptors are decidedly eye-catching, and do better with Jamal Shead to manage the distribution than Scottie Barnes on a night without.
Houston is not far from scuttling itself with two lost balls in the last minute and a few defensive oversights. The locals return to possession but it is too late. For his first game back in Toronto, Fred VanVleet scored his only basket of the evening in the last minute, and in his native country, Dillon Brooks finished the job for a narrow success.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– Houston knows how to win without shining. The Rockets' defense was not sparkling, notably letting the Raptors sign a 17/43 from afar. But Ime Udoka was able to find other solutions to win, notably by pounding the Canadian circle like the 13/14 throws from Dillon Brooks. The Texans will rarely win by signing more turnovers than assists, but this success is no less important.
– The Raptors were not unworthy. Toronto came very close to a big victory by dominating a big name from the West, despite all his absences and a Scottie Barnes at 2/15 shooting. Ja'Kobe Walter's career record (27 points at 9/18), Jamal Shead's 10 assists, or even the six players above ten points will remain reasons for satisfaction, failing to grab an eighth victory this season.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
