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In a thrilling overtime encounter on Saturday night, the Toronto Raptors broke their four-game losing streak with a 131-128 victory over the Sacramento Kings. RJ Barrett was the star of the night with a 31-point performance, while Chris Boucher contributed a season-high 24 points to the Raptors’ cause.
Key Performances
Joining the scoring party was Ochai Agbaji, who netted a season-best 22 points for Toronto, with Gradey Dick matching the tally. Despite the Raptors’ impressive performances, Kings’ Domantas Sabonis’ 60th career triple-double, consisting of 17 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists, couldn’t prevent the end of their three-game winning run.
Former Raptor DeMar DeRozan, now playing for Sacramento, put on a show with 33 points, but crucial misses, including two 3-point attempts in the dying moments of overtime, proved costly. De’Aaron Fox, who had a strong fourth quarter with 14 of his 24 points, failed to deliver in overtime. Meanwhile, Kings’ Malik Monk came off the bench to add 21 points, with Keegan Murray fouling out with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Raptors Honor Vince Carter
The night was also significant for the Raptors as they retired Vince Carter’s No. 15 jersey in a memorable halftime ceremony.
Key Takeaways
De’Aaron Fox struggled with accuracy for the Kings, managing just 3 of 11 attempts through three quarters and missing all 11 of his 3-point attempts. Despite this, Fox found some form in the fourth quarter, sinking 5 of 9.
The Raptors, on the other hand, were playing their first victorious game since losing All-Star Scottie Barnes to a right orbital fracture. Barnes is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks.
Deciding Moment and Stat
The pivotal moment came when Barrett made one of two free throws with just over 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, giving Toronto a two-point lead. Sabonis managed to tip in his own missed putback with three seconds left, pushing the game into overtime.
A key stat from the game was the Raptors’ season-high of 17 3-pointers.
What’s Next?
The Kings will be heading to Miami on Monday, the same night the Raptors kick off a five-game trip starting in Denver.
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