Raptors brought down by Brooklyn
Toronto falls in overtime, 106-105 to the host Nets
NEW YORK — Kawhi Leonard’s short shot went in and out. Fred VanVleet’s 3-pointer went around the rim and spun out.
For 3 1/2 years, the Toronto Raptors had always found a way to beat the Brooklyn Nets. This time, not one, but two chances just wouldn’t fall.
“Just how the game goes sometimes,” said Leonard.
That allowed the Nets to snap an eightgame losing streak overall and a 12-game skid against the Raptors with a 106-105 win in overtime on Friday night.
D’Angelo Russell scored 29 points, including six in overtime, and the Nets beat the Raptors for the first time since April 3, 2015.
“Needed that. Really did,” Russell said. “It was tough. We knew what we had to do to get it. So now we just got to keep going.”
Jarrett Allen made the go-ahead basket for the Nets with a little more than a minute left, their only basket in overtime not made by Russell.
Leonard scored 32 points for the Raptors, but Toronto couldn’t get a look for him on its final possession and had to settle for VanVleet’s 3-pointer that just missed. Jonas Valanciunas added 24 points for the Raptors.
Valanciunas made just his 10th start of the season, with Serge Ibaka coming off the bench.
NBA assists leader Kyle Lowry had 11 for the Raptors but was just 1-for-8 from the field for three points.
Spencer Dinwiddie scored 17 points for Brooklyn, which had been regularly falling short during its losing streak. The Nets had lost five times by single digits, including three two-point losses.
The Nets led by seven with under five minutes remaining in regulation, but Leonard fed VanVleet for a 3-pointer and then scored the next six points himself to give Toronto a 96-94 edge with 2:23 to play. But Leonard’s shot from in the lane rattled out with seven seconds to play.
Undeterred, Leonard blocked Dinwiddie’s shot on the other end to force OT.
Russell had the first two baskets in the extra session, Leonard made the next two, but the Raptors couldn’t get one more shot to fall to take home a victory before their schedule turns tough.
The Raptors next host Milwaukee on Sunday night.
SPURS 133, LAKERS 120
SAN ANTONIO — DeMar DeRozan had 36 points and nine assists and San Antonio rallied to beat Los Angeles. LeBron James led the Lakers with 35 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.