Fred VanVleet appears like his Toronto Raptors are discovering their rhythm with the NBA post-season proper across the nook.
Pascal Siakam earned a double-double with 25 factors, 14 rebounds and eight assists to steer the Raptors previous the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-111 on Thursday as Toronto had back-to-back wins. VanVleet scored 19 and dished out 5 assists as six Raptors gamers hit double digits in factors.
“Well it helps when our two finest gamers play good,” VanVleet mentioned earlier than including “on the similar time” with a smile.
“Just discovering our groove. You cannot actually do nothing about video games which are behind us. You’ve acquired to deal with going ahead and we have been taking part in fairly good basketball.
Jakob Poeltl additionally had a double-double with 16 factors and 12 boards to assist the Raptors (34-36) out-rebound the Thunder 58-39. Gary Trent Jr., had 23 factors, Scottie Barnes had 19, and O.G. Anunoby had 17.
“I do know we are able to do it and we have now the personnel to do it,” mentioned Siakam on Toronto’s balanced assault. “I feel we’re simply persevering with to get higher at understanding one another’s spots and ensuring that we play collectively, talk.
“We’re going to wish each single particular person on this crew for us to have the ability to make a run.”
WATCH | Siakam leads means as Raptors defeat Thunder:
Pascal Siakam leads Raptors to a season-high sixth straight dwelling victory
Pascal Siakam had 25 factors and 14 rebounds main the Toronto Raptors over Oklahoma City Thunder 128-111.
Hamilton’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 factors as Oklahoma City (34-36) had its three-game win streak snapped. Guard Jalen Williams added 15 factors whereas Montreal’s Luguentz Dort scored 10 factors with eight rebounds.
“They had been the aggressors all evening on each ends of the ground,” mentioned Gilgeous-Alexander. “Defensively they introduced strain all evening. Played of their consolation zone.
“Then offensively they had been attacking, had us on our heels after which they had been on the glass.”
It was the second consecutive sport a Canadian star visited Toronto after Jamal Murray of Kitchener, Ont., and his Denver Nuggets misplaced to the Raptors 125-110 on Tuesday.
Toronto head coach Nick Nurse, who additionally coaches Canada’s males’s senior crew, mentioned it is good for the expansion of basketball on this nation to have so many homegrown gamers coming via town to play the Raptors.
“I simply actually suppose it has to inspire the youthful children loads,” mentioned Nurse earlier than the sport. “Gives them any individual to look as much as. Those children are on the market carrying these guys’ jerseys.”
Poeltl introduced the gang of 19,800 at Scotiabank Arena to their toes with a one-handed jam with 3:19 left within the half. Anunoby adopted that up with a steal on the following Thunder possession, passing to Poeltl for a layup as Toronto constructed a 64-59 lead by the intermission
“That’s simply good momentum,” mentioned VanVleet of the sequence. “At dwelling, get the gang going with these guys taking part in above the rim.
“Being capable of end performs off like that via contact and with the ability to end and simply get the vitality and the momentum going — it provides your crew a giant increase.”
Back-to-back three-pointers by Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe introduced the Thunder to inside 4 within the third quarter, however the Raptors answered again with a 13-foot bounce shot from Trent and a Chris Boucher dunk to take care of their lead. Heading into the fourth Toronto led 93-87.
Oklahoma City could not muster a lot of a comeback within the ultimate quarter, with Siakam persevering with to dominate. He had 5 of his factors within the quarter and Poeltl added eight.
Koloko exits with harm
Toronto rookie centre Christian Koloko was hit within the nostril within the fourth quarter and left the sport. He was listed as questionable by the Raptors following the harm.
Toronto hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
