Somehow Raptors dropped a game that was all but won.
Finally close to full strength, the Raptors ran with the Bulls for much of the night Friday, only to get gored in the end.
A stunning four-point play by Bulls guard Coby White with four seconds remaining in regulation forced overtime, Chicago started the extra period on a 10-2 run and ended up winning the game 125-115, shocking the visitors.
Scottie Barnes returned to the lineup for the Raptors after missing a game due to a left hip contusion and only missed one shot in a dominant first half on the way to 24 points, Immanuel Quickley had 23, but fouled White late and then fouled out in the first minute of overtime. RJ Barrett had a couple of clutch layups in the fourth and had 18 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in the game, but it wasn’t enough. White led the Bulls with 24, Josh Giddey had 19, along with 12 assists as Toronto dropped to 5-23 on the road.
The Bulls finally got the crowd engaged in the fourth, rallying from a 16-point deficit to get within one point, the closest the game had been since the opening quarter. White gave the Raptors problems in the quarter, sparking the 12-0 run with seven straight points. White converted the free throw after his desperation three-pointer fell, Barnes missed a 16-foot jump shot and the game went to overtime.
With Jakob Poeltl also in the lineup, the game marked just the seventh time all season head coach Darko Rajakovic had his top choice of five starters available (we’re leaving former all-star Brandon Ingram out of this equation, for now, as it’s unclear when he’ll make his Raptors debut and replace Gradey Dick in the starting lineup).
Chicago was missing its top scorer and rebounder, Nikola Vucevic. Vucevic was especially missed on the boards, with Toronto dominating the glass.
The Raptors led 63-54 at halftime largely thanks to strong play from Barnes, who had 14 points. Toronto actually hit as many three-pointers in the first quarter (six) as in an entire loss Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Toronto looked excellent offensively, shooting 50%, including 10 three-pointers, but cooled from there, nailing only two more threes the rest of the way in regulation.
The Raptors also got to the free throw line three times as often in the first half.
The lead stretched to as many as 13 points in the half and though the Bulls cut to within five after a Matas Buzelis dunk, Barrett and Quickley heated up and extended Toronto’s lead back to 13.
Chicago won the first two meetings of the season and can sweep the season series.
Toronto lost reserve wing Ochai Agbaji early on to an ankle sprain after he landed on teammate Orlando Robinson’s foot. Agbaji had to be helped to the locker room.
The Raptors fell to 18-42 on the season.
This road trip continues with consecutive games in Orlando on Sunday and Tuesday.