Raptors set franchise scoring record after rallying from 19-point deficit to beat Kings
The Kings led the Toronto Raptors by as many as 19 points in the first quarter Friday night at Golden 1 Center. They looked up to find themselves trailing by 24 in the fourth.
Fred VanVleet scored 34 points to help the Raptors snap a three-game losing streak with a 144-123 victory over the Kings. Toronto set a franchise record for most points scored in a regulation game.
“Clearly, we’ve got to start taking some more pride on the defensive end,” Kings coach Luke Walton said. “That’s another game where guys really got whatever they wanted.”
Chris Boucher and Pascal Siakam recorded double-doubles for the Raptors (2-6), who were missing All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry due to personal reasons. Boucher finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Siakam flirted with a triple-double, posting 17 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. Normal Powell scored 22.
De’Aaron Fox scored 23 points to lead the Kings (4-5). Harrison Barnes had 21 points and tied his career high with eight assists.
Rookie Tyrese Haliburton came off the bench to post 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range with eight assists and one turnover. In seven games this season, Haliburton has 36 assists and five turnovers. Buddy Hield added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.
The Kings made 17 of 21 (.810) from the field and 6 of 8 (.750) from 3-point range during a sizzling first quarter. They led by 19 after Hield made a 3-pointer to put them up 40-21 with 3:09 to play in the opening period, but the Raptors cut the deficit to eight going into the second quarter. Toronto took the lead on a basket by Siakam with 5:43 to go in the half, but the Kings carried a 74-71 advantage into the break.
The teams traded leads in the third quarter until the Raptors staged an 8-0 run to go up by seven. They led 111-103 at the end of the third, went up by 16 on a 3-pointer by Terence Davis and took their largest lead of the game when OG Anunoby scored to put them up 135-111 in the fourth.
The Kings shot 56.8% from the field and made 15 of 34 (.441) from 3-point range, but the Raptors shot 58.2% and made 20 of 39 (.513) from beyond the arc.
The Raptors outscored the Kings 24-8 to start the fourth quarter, going 8 of 10 from the field and 6 of 8 from 3-point range. Walton used eight different players during that stretch. Nobody could get a stop.
Six 3s.
Two layups.
Game over.
“Offensively, we played a game good enough to win NBA games,” Fox said. “Defensively, we played a game that you wouldn’t win a single game in this league with. We shot f---ing 60% today. You’re not supposed to lose a game when you shoot 60% from the field, but on the defensive side of the ball, they were just getting whatever they wanted.”
Kyle Lowry ruled out
Lowry, a six-time All-Star, was ruled out due to personal reasons Friday afternoon.
Lowry is averaging 19.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game for the Raptors. He had 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists in a 123-115 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday. He scored 30 points in a 118-113 win over the Kings last season in Sacramento.
Up next
The Kings will play the third game of this seven-game homestand when they entertain the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night at Golden 1 Center. This is the second back-to-back set of the season for the Kings, who beat the Phoenix Suns 106-103 on Dec. 27 before suffering a 116-100 loss to the Suns the next night.
The Blazers are coming off a 135-117 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. They had lost three of their previous four games, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls.
Blazers coach Terry Stotts is relying heavily on Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Lillard is averaging 27.6 points and 6.6 assists. He is shooting 38.4% from 3-point range on 10.8 attempts per game. McCollum is averaging a career-high 26.8 points and 5.3 assists. He is shooting a career-best 43.2% from 3-point range on a career-high 11 3-point attempts per game, up from 7.3 last season.
Injury report
Raptors: OUT — Kyle Lowry (personal); Patrick McCaw (knee).
Kings: QUESTIONABLE — De’Aaron Fox (hamstring). OUT — DaQuan Jeffries (ankle); Jabari Parker (health & safety protocols).
Upcoming Kings schedule
Jan. 9 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 11 vs. Indiana Pacers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs. Los Angeles Clippers, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published January 8, 2021 at 9:27 PM.
