Raptors fend off the Rockets
There’s going to be games when the Toronto Raptors have to learn on the job. Veteran centre Jakob Poeltl is eager to be part of those lessons.
Immanuel Quickley led with 25 points as the Raptors held off the Houston Rockets 107-104 on Friday as Toronto welcomed back former star Fred VanVleet. The Raptors led by as much as 23 points but the game was decided by a single shot, which Poeltl said was discussed in the locker room post-game.
“It’s a good win for us and at the same time it’s a learning experience being in a game like that when it comes down to the wire,” said the 28-year-old Poeltl who, after eight seasons in the NBA, is one of Toronto’s more experienced players. “Cleaning up those mistakes on defence, cleaning it up, even rebounds at the end of the game.
“It kept them in the game a little bit. Getting a little bit better organized. Stuff like that.”
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., had 21 points and a season-high seven assists as Toronto (19-33) won back-to-back games.
Scottie Barnes and Poeltl each had a double-double. Barnes had 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists, while Poeltl had 16 points and 12 rebounds.
“We’ve got to keep our aggressiveness a little bit,” said Poeltl. “It’s one thing not to play wild and try and manage your lead.
“We want to play smart, but we almost we made it a little bit too easy on them getting stops there at the end of the game.”
Jabari Smith Jr. had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Houston (23-28) dropped its third straight. Dillon Brooks, also from Mississauga, had 20 points with 11 coming in the fourth quarter.
“We’ve got to bring that intensity from the beginning,” said Brooks. “Our starters, including myself, were a little slow to begin with. We can’t dig ourselves those types of holes.”
VanVleet, who started his career with the Raptors and won the NBA championship with the team in 2019, returned to Toronto for the first time since signing with Houston in the off-season. He agreed to a lucrative three-year US$128 million deal with the Rockets in July but wasn’t able to play on Friday because of a left adductor strain.
“I don’t really know what to expect, but I was obviously excited to make the trip,” said VanVleet at Houston’s morning shootaround. “It’s good to come visit some people and spend some time in some of my favourite places.
“It’s definitely one of my favourite places in the world.”
Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers (34-16) on Saturday night.
Houston continues its road trip with a stop in Atlanta against the Hawks on Saturday.