A great collective effort allowed the Toronto Raptors to triumph for the first time in three games on Sunday.
Four different players scored at least 15 points and the Raptors defeated the Utah Jazz by a score of 107-100.
A streak of eight unanswered points in the third quarter allowed Toronto to double the Jazz with a quarter to play. The Raptors then took a nine-point lead and never looked back.
Named to the All-Star Game earlier in the day, Scottie Barnes collected 14 points including the dunk that punctuated the score, with eight seconds remaining.
True to form, he also provided two steals and four blocks.
With this win bringing their record to 30-21, the Raptors equaled their number of victories from last season.
RJ Barrett had a productive evening with 21 points, while Sandro Mamukelashvili also shined with 20 points.
Brandon Ingram scored 19 points while Immanuel Quickley added 17 points.
For Jazz, the response came from Lauri Markkanen’s double of 27 points and 11 rebounds. Isaiah Collier also scored 19 points, then Jusuf Nurkic added 11 points and 13 rebounds.
SGA inspire le Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had another great game Sunday night, leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 121-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets.
Gilgeous-Alexander scored 34 points and added 13 assists to lead the Thunder to their second victory in their last five outings. SGA thus scored a fifth double this season.
Cason Wallace also had an excellent game with 27 points, a personal high in the NBA.
Luguentz Dort only had six points in the game.
For the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic was less busy with only 16 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists. Peyton Watson had 29 points.
Elsewhere in the NBA
Bucks 79 – Celtics 107
MIL : Ryan Rollins was the best element of the Bucks with a performance of 10/16 and 25 points.
BOS : Jaylen Brown shined with a double of 30 points and 13 rebounds, while Anfernee Simons added 27 points.
Nets 77 – Pistons 130
BRK : Cam Thomas and Drake Powell each scored 12 points. The Nets were held to fewer than 80 points for the second time in seven games.
THE : Jalen Duren (21 points and 10 rebounds) as well as Cade Cunningham (18 points and 12 assists) each scored a double.
Bulls 91 – Heat 134
CHI : Coby White scored 16 points and Nikola Vucevic added 12 points.
MIA : Bam Adebayo and Pelle Larsson each scored 20 points. Andrew Wiggins and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 14 points each.
Kings 112 – Wizards 116
SAC : DeMar DeRozan had a good evening with 32 points. Zach LaVine’s four shots from downtown helped him tally 35 points.
WAS : The Wizards’ leading scorer in the victory was Will Riley, with 18 points.
Lakers 100 – Knicks 112
LAL : Luka Doncic excelled with 30 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists. LeBron James added 22 points.
NOW : 25 point outing for OG Anunoby. Doubled with 11 points and 13 rebounds for Karl-Anthony Towns.
Clippers 117 – Suns 93
LAC : 25-point evening for Kawhi Leonard. Ivica Zubac dominated under the ring with 14 points and 20 rebounds.
PHO : Grayson Allen recorded 23 points and Dillon Brooks had 22 points.
Magic 103 – Spurs 113
ORL : Desmond Bane had 25 points, while Paolo Banchero scored a double of 19 points and 10 rebounds.
on : Victor Wembanyama was the most efficient of his team with 25 points and 8 rebounds.
Cavaliers 130 – Trail Blazers 111
CLE : Jarrett Allen was dominant with 40 points and 17 rebounds.
BY : Caleb Love scored 21 points and Shaedon Sharpe added 20 points.
