Cason Wallace equaled his career best with 27 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Toronto Raptors 116-107 on Tuesday night, giving the NBA’s top team its fifth victory in six games.
Isaiah Joe added 22 points, while Alex Caruso scored 16 in his return from an ankle sprain. Luguentz Dort chipped in 15, and Isaiah Hartenstein had 11 as Oklahoma City secured its third consecutive win in Toronto. The Thunder improved to 21-7 on the road, the league’s best.
Thunder Overcome Absences
Oklahoma City played without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who remained sidelined with an abdominal strain and did not travel for the team’s only regular-season trip to Canada. Jalen Williams (hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) were also unavailable.
Wallace stepped up in Gilgeous-Alexander’s absence, recording his second straight 20-point performance while contributing six assists and eight rebounds.
Raptors Rally Falls Short
Toronto erased a 25-point deficit after trailing 96-71 late in the third quarter. Jamal Shead’s 3-pointer with 4:06 remaining capped the comeback and tied the game at 101-101.
However, after the Thunder misfired on 14 of their first 15 shots in the fourth, Wallace regained control. He knocked down consecutive baskets, then forced a turnover and set up Joe for a key 3-pointer to restore Oklahoma City’s advantage.
RJ Barrett led the Raptors with 21 points, while Immanuel Quickley and Ja’Kobe Walter each scored 17. Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram added 15 apiece, and Shead finished with 13. Toronto had entered the night riding a two-game winning streak.
Jakob Poeltl sat out with a lower back issue as the Raptors opened a back-to-back set.
Up Next
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Thunder: Visit Detroit on Wednesday night.
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Raptors: Return home to face Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.
