The Toronto Raptors drop their first In-Season Tournament game to the Boston Celtics 108-105.
The Raptors were down by as many as 16 but clawed back in the third quarter and made it a game.
Late in the fourth quarter Derrick White hit a go-ahead three. Scottie Barnes had a chance to tie it from deep on the other end, but could not hit. The Celtics hold on to improve to 2-0 in Group C.
Leading the way for the Raptors was Pascal Siakam. He 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Dennis Schroder also chipped in with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Both were instrumental in helping the Raptors come back in the third quarter. Toronto outscored Boston 32-19 in the frame.
Scottie Barnes had 14 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds. Barnes struggled from the field shooting 5/13 and 2/6 from deep. Barnes has now struggled in two games against the Celtics so far this season.
Gary Trent Jr. who started in place of O.G. Anunoby (finger laceration) had 14 points on 4/9 shooting from the field and 3/5 shooting from deep. He did most of his damage in the first quarter.
The Raptors bench combined for 20 points. Rookie Gradey Dick continues to struggle. He was scoreless in 10 minutes going 0/5 from the field and 0/4 from three.
The Raptors actually had a better field goal and three-point percentage than the Celtics in this one. They also outscored the Celtics in the paint 54-40. However, Boston made 4 more threes. The late three from White being the difference.
Darko Rajakovic made some questionable coaching decisions in this game which proved costly. After picking up 3 quick fouls in the first quarter, Rajakovic benched Siakam for the rest of the first-half. That’s when the Celtics made their run and increased their lead to 16 going into halftime.
Then late in the fourth quarter Rajakovic took Scottie Barnes out with 4:32 left in the game. Barnes was waiting to check in at the scorers table but there was no stoppage in play. Barnes ended up checking back into the game with 0:27 left. Rajakovic said he considered using a timeout or giving a foul. “Thats on me. I’m going to own that one,” Rajakovic said.
Next on tap
The Raptors have now dropped two games in a row and find themselves 5-7. They will continue their home stand on Nov. 19 when they host the Detroit Pistons.
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