All that Jazz too much for Raptors

Late rally spoils big night for Valanciunas

TORONTO Ricky Rubio drained a three-pointer with 4.8 seconds remaining as the Utah Jazz edged the Toronto Raptors 97-93 on Friday night at Air Canada Centre.

Donovan Mitchell had a teamhigh 26 points while Rubio finished with 14 points, six assists and six rebounds in the win. Utah (21-26) has now won three of its last five and improved to 7-19 on the road this season.

Jonas Valanciunas paced the Raptors with a game-high 28 points, 14 rebounds and a careerbest two three-pointers made. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points, eight assists and six rebounds while C.J. Miles chipped in with 10 points off the bench.

With the loss, the Raptors (3215) earn a split of the season series against the Jazz. Toronto defeated Utah 109-100 on Nov. 3 in the only other meeting between the two clubs this season.

“Everyone concentrates at the end part of the game,’’ said a frustrated Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, who now will have to wait for one more win or a Cleveland loss to ensure his presence at allstar weekend along with his staff, an honour that was the last thing on his mind following this setback.

“Our problem tonight was that we started the game out in mud. That set the tone for the rest of the night. We didn’t come out with the right approach, the right mentality, the right physicality to start the game. And after that we were climbing uphill the rest of the game.”

The Jazz used a 16-4 surge to erase the Raptors’ 10-point lead and tie the game 61-61 with five minutes remaining in the third, and then closed the period out on a 9-2 run to lead 75-69 heading into the fourth.

Our problem tonight was that we started the game out in mud. That set the tone for the rest of the night.

Mitchell paced the Jazz with 15 third-quarter points.

The Raptors closed the half on a 14-3 run highlighted by an O.G. Anunoby putback jam to lead 4845 at the break.

Valanciunas led all Raptors with 17 points and nine rebounds while DeRozan added 11 points and six assists. Miles added seven points off the bench. Rubio led all Jazz scorers with 11 points.

The Jazz led by six, 30-24 after one, thanks in part to their 54 per cent shooting from the field. Rubio paced Utah with seven points and Rudy Gobert chipped in with six points and five rebounds.

DeRozan and Valanciunas each had seven for Toronto.

The Raptors started out sloppy, turning the ball over four times in the first seven and a half minutes while the Jazz hit 10 of their first 14 shots.

Meanwhile in Cleveland, LeBron James had his 63rd career triple-double — overcoming 11 turnovers — and the Cleveland Cavaliers showed signs of ending their stunning slump with a 115-108 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.

James finished with 26 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Cavs, following a minor lineup switch by coach Tyronn Lue, win for just the fourth time in 11 games. However, James kept Indiana close in the fourth with six turnovers. J.R. Smith added 23 points for Cleveland. Victor Oladipo scored 25 points for Indiana.

Notes: Canadian tennis star Denis Shapovalov was in attendance courtside ... The Raptors continue their three-game home stand on Sunday when they play host to the Lakers.