TORONTO (AP) — Mike Muscala made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 9 seconds remaining and the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder held on to beat the shorthanded Toronto Raptors 110-109 on Wednesday evening.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 of his 26 factors within the third quarter and the Thunder (8-16) rallied from a 13-point deficit to win their second straight recreation.
Toronto’s Justin Champagnie thought he had tipped in Fred VanVleet’s missed shot on the buzzer to provide the Raptors the win however, after a wild celebration at heart court docket, the referees dominated Champagnie’s shot had come too late.
“I used to be actually scared,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned. “Clearly, you set a lot right into a recreation. Like that it may be taken away. Fortunately, it wasn’t.”
The Thunder, who gained Monday at Detroit to snap an eight-game dropping streak, overcame a double-digit deficit for the second recreation in a row. Oklahoma Metropolis fought again from 18 right down to beat the Pistons.
“Guys simply made big-time performs tonight,” coach Mark Daigneault mentioned.
Luguentz Dort scored 22 factors, Darius Bazley had 15 and Josh Giddey added 13 for Oklahoma Metropolis.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 factors, Pascal Siakam had 23 and VanVleet scored 14 of his 19 within the fourth quarter because the Raptors misplaced for the primary time in three video games. Toronto is 4-9 at dwelling.
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Already with out ahead OG Anunoby (left hip) and heart Khem Birch (proper knee), who sat out for the tenth straight recreation, the Raptors additionally performed with out heart Valuable Achiuwa, who was unavailable due to a sore proper shoulder. Chris Boucher made his first begin of the season rather than Achiuwa.
The Canadian-born Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned he received a lift from taking part in north of the border, with family and friends from his close by dwelling of Hamilton, Ontario, watching from the stands.
“It’s an thrilling feeling,” he mentioned. “It’s all the time enjoyable and it all the time will likely be.”
Gilgeous-Alexander shot 6 for 17 and went 12 for 12 on the free throw line. He additionally had 9 assists.
“He was actually good,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse mentioned. “He was exhausting to maintain in entrance of and he was making good performs.”
Dort, who can be from Canada, mentioned he had household and pals who got here in from Montreal, some 300 miles away, to observe him play.
“It was simply nice,” Dort mentioned. “It’s all the time good to be again in your nation.”
Toronto trailed 100-94 after back-to-back 3-pointers by VanVleet with 3:51 remaining, and Trent’s 3 with 1:45 left made it 103-102.
Dort scored for the Thunder earlier than VanVleet related once more, his fourth 3 of the quarter, tying it at 105 with 59 seconds left.
VanVleet put the Raptors forward with a pair of free throws, however Gilgeous-Alexander made a pair of his personal to tie the rating once more earlier than Champagnie’s basket with 18 seconds left gave Toronto a 109-107 lead.
After a timeout, a driving Gileous-Alexander kicked out to search out Muscala for his go-ahead 3.
“As quickly as I noticed Mike was open, I needed to get it to him,” Gilgeous-Alexander mentioned.
Daigneault praised Gilgeous-Alexander for not attempting to do an excessive amount of with the sport on the road.
“I’ve been actually impressed together with his restraint and his capacity to play the lengthy recreation,” Daigneault mentioned. “He’s dwelling in Canada and he’s received the ball in his palms, down by two, and he makes the best play. He doesn’t get thirsty and attempt to power something up there.”
Toronto led 64-54 at halftime however Gilgeous-Alexander scored 16 within the third quarter, going 8 for 8 on the free throw line and including a pair of 3-pointers. The Raptors shot 5 for 27 within the third and have been outscored 33-12, matching their lowest level whole in any quarter this season.
The Raptors made just one basket within the closing eight minutes of the third, a 3-pointer from Scottie Barnes, and have been outscored 25-3 throughout that span. The Thunder took an 87-76 lead into the fourth.
FURIOUS FINISH
The Raptors made six 3-pointers within the fourth and completed with 15, matching their season excessive. Toronto has made 15 3-pointers twice beforehand, doing it most just lately in a Nov. 21 loss at Golden State.
TIP-INS
Thunder: Outscored Toronto 19-14 in bench factors.. … Derrick Favors had eight factors and 9 rebounds. … Improved to 6-16 when taking pictures beneath 50% .
Raptors: Siakam shot 7 for 9 within the first half. He completed 10 of 15. … Toronto scored 12 factors within the fourth quarter of a Nov. 19 win at Sacramento.
UP NEXT
Thunder: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday evening.
Raptors: Host the New York Knicks on Friday evening.
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