After a setback that ended their winning streak on Sunday, the Toronto Raptors rebounded by beating the Chicago Bulls 104-98 on Tuesday night at Scotiabank Arena.
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Each victory is important for Nick Nurse’s squad (31-32), which is trying to position itself well for the NBA playoffs. The Raptors finished February with eight wins in 11 games and are now ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference.
Both teams were effective defensively in the first three quarters, with neither side able to score more than 30 points. The “Raps” even trailed by two points after 36 minutes.
Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 20 points, while Fred VanVleet was very discreet with only one successful basket in 11 attempts. The 29-year-old had three points in 35 minutes on the court.
Quebecer Chris Boucher did better with nine points, a rebound and an assist in 14 minutes.
The Raptors will face the Washington Wizards twice in a row, Thursday and Saturday, their direct pursuers in the standings.