(Toronto) Very solid for the vast majority of the game, but unable to carry the knockout, the Raptors were defeated 122-116 by the Utah Jazz on Friday night in Toronto.
Nick Nurse’s squad squandered a 10-point lead in the final 4:38, allowing the Jazz to end a three-game losing streak.
Starting star Lauri Markkanen had 23 points, as did rookie Walker Kessler.
Collin Sexton added 22 points and British Columbian Kelly Olynyk helped out with 15 points.
For the Raptors, star player Pascal Siakam led with 35 points.
Gary Trent (19 points), Fred VanVleet (17), Precious Achiuwa (16) and Scottie Barnes (12) put their shoulder to the wheel, but Utah did more when needed.
“We played great basketball for three quarters,” VanVleet said. In the last quarter, we were almost always on the heels. »
Acquired the day before (and making a return with the Raptors), Jakob Poeltl had six points in 17 minutes.
“He did some good things especially with screens and he got some fouls,” Nurse said. He offered respectable play for someone who has just arrived. »
OG Anunoby missed their eighth game in a row with a strained left wrist.
The Raptors (26-31) made their first five 3-point shots, building momentum that put them in control 61-58 at the half, then 96-83 after three quarters.
Nurse called a time-out when the visitors pulled it back to six points with 3:39 on the clock, but that didn’t stop the damage.
Olynyk hit the mark from long distance and Sexton hit the basket-free throw duo, creating the stalemate.
Shortly after, Sexton added a stride shot giving the Jazz the lead for good, 117-114.
Utah ruled 21-4 in the final 4:38 against a group that wanted a fourth straight win.
Toronto ceded the 10e position in the East at the Wizards, inactive on Friday. Washington has a half-game priority.
The Raptors will play again Sunday at home starting at 3 p.m., against the Detroit Pistons (TSN).
The Wizards will host the Pacers on Saturday night.
Prior to the game, the NBA announced that Siakam has been added to the roster for the All-Star Game at the Jazz’s home on Feb. 19.
The 28-year-old Cameroonian will be at his second participation in the event, after 2020.
Siakam leads Toronto with 25 points per game this season, on average (before Friday’s game). He’s on his way to setting a career high in that regard.
Siakam also had 6.2 assists per game, again, a number that could become a career high.
All this with a whole workload, he who leads the NBA with 37 and a half minutes of play per game, on average.
Siakam is the only player in the East to average 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists per game this season.
He had nine 30-plus-point games, including a career-high 52 points at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 21.
Markkanen will be one of the starters at the annual classic.
Second in scorer for the Jazz (20.9), Jordan Clarkson did not feel good enough to play on Friday.
It’s not about COVID-19, the club said.
Acquired Thursday from the Lakers, Russell Westbrook has not yet joined the Jazz. The member of nine star teams could seek to see his contract compensated, with a view to finding takers elsewhere.