During the Sunday NBA slate, the Toronto Raptors rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 106-103, thanks to 19 points from Pascal Siakam.
The Grizzlies played without star Ja Morant due to right wrist soreness — leaving them without their closer. Jaren Jackson Jr. missed a 3-pointer with 5.2 seconds left that would have tied the game in a pivotal moment.
A season-long road swing that includes seven games saw the Raptors win its second straight game and finish 4-3. The Grizzlies are on a three-game losing streak and have lost eight of its last nine games.
For the Raptors, Chris Boucher scored 17 points and made three 3-pointers to match his season high. In the fourth quarter, Scottie Barnes scored 13 of his 16 points, including two crucial made field goals. Fred Van Vleet recorded 15 points and seven assists.
“Things got tight in the fourth quarter,” Barnes said. “It was just the ball was coming to me, and I was having a ball. I was just trying to get downhill and win the game.”
A 26-point performance from Desmond Bane and 18 points and four blocks from Jackson led the Grizzlies. Morant and Adams were both out, as was Brooks, who served a one-game suspension for a confrontation with Donovan Mitchell on Thursday.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
In the fourth quarter, the Raptors outscored the Grizzlies by a 28-17 margin. Bane sees Memphis as needing to clean things up amid his team’s struggles.
“I think just valuing every possession,” Bane said. “Understanding the magnitude of every possession for a full 48 minutes, but especially down the stretch. When it comes down to it, we’ve got to be able to rebound the basketball and not allow teams to get second chances.”
In the late stages of the game, the Raptors put their foot on the gas and the Grizzlies proved unable to do the same. The Grizzlies did lead 81-66 at the 4:44 mark of the third period, but Toronto rallied back within 86-78 entering the fourth.
NBA SCORES & NEWS: Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors & Memphis Grizzlies Updates
“You don’t want to try and come down and out-jump-shoot teams,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “They were open shots, but we needed to get in attack mode and attack the paint. (Jump shots) are great when they all go in, but when none of them go in, it looks and feels really bad, and you put yourself in a big hole.”
The Raptors led 100-99 after Precious Achiuwa dunk with 2:32 left. Thereafter, the teams traded baskets until Barnes hit a pair of shots, the latter with 20.1 seconds left to give his team a 104-103 lead.
“It was a great win … to close it out with that fourth quarter,” VanVleet said. “Things were not really going our way. We just hung in there and made a couple of more plays at the end.”
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