Toronto hit 20 three-pointers, connecting on 57% of its attempts as Kevin Durant goes quiet.
The Phoenix Suns can be described in a variety of ways: Star-studded; stinking rich; just plain stinky immediately come to mind – and a season from hell continued with a poor effort leading to a loss Sunday against the Raptors.
RJ Barrett caught fire late, making three consecutive three-pointers to turn a moderately close game into a blowout, Immanuel Quickley matched him with 23 points, Chris Boucher was superb off the bench with 23 as well and Scottie Barnes did a little bit of everything, including help keep Kevin Durant in check.
The Suns played a night earlier, picking up a win in Chicago and did dress Durant, Devin Booker (31 points) and Bradley Beal (30), but somehow that wasn’t enough as the Raptors improved to 2-10 without Jakob Poeltl this season. Durant had only 15 points, his second-fewest in a game at Toronto in a career that dates all the way back to time in Seattle. Only Stephen Curry (29.0) has a higher scoring average here than Durant, but he barely made it half way to his regular output.
Phoenix is the NBA’s runaway leader in spending, with a $220.7 million U.S. payroll (with commitments of $210 million for next year too), but somehow is below .500 and not even in a play-in spot. The three starts tend to try to go one-on-one far too often, the ball doesn’t move and they don’t play much defence.
On this night Toronto did the exact opposite on all fronts. Barnes spearheaded a great defensive effort. The team handed out 30 assists on 43 made baskets and led nearly the entire way, though a 19-point advantage was cut to three in the second half.
Toronto led 67-52 at the half, with the Suns only picking up eight assists on 21 made shots, compared to 17 on 23 baskets by the Raptors.
Gradey Dick and Quickley each hit three three-pointers and Chris Boucher was outstanding off the bench, scoring 14 points in nine minutes with only one miss on seven shots.
Durant scored 10 points in the first half, but only five the rest of the way.
Toronto had lost two straight and 6-of-7, but had played well on Friday, before fading in overtime against Miami.
When Phoenix got within three Toronto answered with a 10-2 run and led 88-82 after three quarters.
Up by only six after a Booker layup in the fourth, Toronto then got three three-pointers in a row from Barrett, resulting in roars from the crowd.
Toronto hosts defending NBA champion Boston on Tuesday, and finishes a back-to-back in Cleveland the next night.
@WolstatSun