Raptors caught napping in Dallas
DALLAS So good for so long, DeMar DeRozan wasn’t so good on Tuesday.
He wasn’t the only reason why the Toronto Raptors lost to the Dallas Mavericks, but when your top offensive player is held under 10 points and makes only three shots, bad things tend to happen.
Kyle Lowry tried to compensate for his backcourt partner’s off night, but the Raptors needed more players to step up on both ends of the floor.
There were too many passengers on this night, too many opportunities gone awry, and the Raptors succumbed 98-93 in a game they did not deserve to win.
The loss ended a six-game Toronto winning streak.
It was a one-possession game with 1:38 remaining, the Raptors getting out in transition when stops were made.
Both teams went small following a Mavs time out. A game-tying three-ball by Serge Ibaka rimmed out for the Raptors, who kept Dallas to one shot on each possession. Ibaka then missed from close range, allowing Dallas to score with 10.2 seconds left.
Even with their woes from the field, the Raptors hung around, trailing by five with 3:30 to go, playing solid defence that led to Dallas turning the ball over on a shot-clock violation.
Tempers then flared when Salah Mejri and Lowry exchanged words and shoves, prompting coaches from both benches to go on the floor and settle matters down.
Officials reviewed the sequence and gave both Mejri and Lowry double technicals.
With Jonas Valanciunas struggling, the Raptors went with Ibaka at centre and Pascal Siakam at power forward. It wasn’t just the lack of offence from Valanciunas, but also his four fouls, despite the eight rebounds he had before he took a seat on the bench.
Veteran J.J. Barea led the Mavs with a 20-point night.
Following three quarters, the Raptors trailed 85-77.
DeRozan was two of 14 after three quarters, including a onefor-eight run in the third where he didn’t make a single trip to the line.
Toronto’s second unit was on the floor to begin the second quarter. The reserves played with energy and defended well as the Raptors went on an 8-0 run to tie the game 31-31.
Lowry was Toronto’s only starter capable of making shots. Take away his four-of-seven shooting and his fellow starters combined to make six of 23 attempts.
Dallas was a plus-six in points scored off turnovers.
Having recently played against Vince Carter, the one-time face of the Raptors, Toronto matched up against Dirk Nowitzki, another member of the class of 1998. Carter and Nowitzki are well past their prime, but in spurts each is still capable of making an impact.
For Nowitzki, his size allows him to see over defences, and when left open he’ll make shots.
In five first-quarter minutes, Nowitzki made both of his two shots from the field and added two rebounds as his cellar-dwelling Mavericks forged an early lead.