Markkanen, Kessler help Jazz rally past Raptors

TORONTO – The referee’s whistle took Fred VanVleet and his Toronto Raptors out of their defensive rhythm after which out of the sport.

Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler had 23 factors apiece because the short-handed Utah Jazz rallied previous Toronto 122-116 on Friday. Utah scored 39 of its factors within the fourth quarter, together with 11 on 13 free-throw makes an attempt.

“I believed we performed three nice quarters of basketball,” stated VanVleet, who completed with 17 factors and 5 private fouls. “I feel it was simply onerous to get again on our toes, we have been type of on our heels, the entire quarter.

“Simply the best way the whistle was going, actually took me out of it early on.”

Newly minted all-star Pascal Siakam scored 35 to guide the Raptors (26-31), who noticed their three-game win streak snapped. Siakam, who additionally had six rebounds and 4 assists, was named to the NBA all-star participant pool as an harm alternative earlier Friday.

Regardless of having the recent hand, Siakam had just one shot try within the remaining 5 minutes of play, a 22-foot three-pointer that he missed with 34 seconds left to play.

“He was the one one which was enjoying effectively. He in all probability ought to have had the ball extra,” stated VanVleet. “I’ll must look and see every possession. I don’t actually bear in mind the way it went down the stretch.

“I wouldn’t have been mad if he had it the entire remainder of the best way but it surely didn’t go that approach.”

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Kelly Olynyk of Kamloops, B.C., nearly had a triple-double with 15 factors, seven rebounds and eight assists because the Jazz (28-29) ended a three-game skid.

Utah was with out guard Russell Westbrook, ahead Juan Toscano-Anderson and centre Damian Jones. They weren’t but with the staff after being traded to the Jazz in a three-team deal Thursday.

Toronto centre Jakob Poeltl received a rousing ovation from the 19,800 in attendance at Scotiabank Enviornment when he entered the sport with 5:06 left within the first.

Poeltl was traded to Toronto from San Antonio forward of Thursday’s commerce deadline. He completed with six factors and 4 rebounds in 16:41 of labor.

“I believed he did some good issues, good display screen and rolls, received to the free-throw line,” stated Raptors head coach Nick Nurse. “I believed he performed first rate for simply getting right here.”

Siakam sank a jumper with 0.3 seconds left within the half to present Toronto a 61-58 lead. His 23 factors after two quarters led all scorers.

He made his season-high fifth three-pointer of the evening with 6:05 to play within the third. His earlier excessive was 4 in a 119-106 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 26.

VanVleet made two free throws with 1.7 seconds left within the third to increase the Raptors’ result in 96-83, however then the refs’ whistles got here out.

Kessler dunked an alley-oop cross from Talen Horton-Tucker to drag Utah inside eight with 4:12 left to play. After Markkanen grabbed a defensive rebound, Horton-Tucker scored a layup to chop Toronto’s result in six.

Olynyk adopted that with a three-pointer and Valuable Achiuwa turned it over on a journey, permitting Collin Sexton’s layup to deliver the Jazz to inside a degree. Sexton was fouled on his drive to the online and the following free throw tied the sport 112-112.

“I take 100 per cent of the blame on that,” stated Achiuwa on Toronto’s late collapse. “I’ve received to do a greater job anchoring the defence again there, getting guys the place they should be.

“I’ve simply received to be higher.”

Scottie Barnes sank two free throws to reassert the Raptors’ lead, however Markkanen drained a floater and hit a free throw to make it 115-114 Utah.

Sexton’s layup prolonged that result in three earlier than Barnes drove to the online with 1:14 left to play to maintain Toronto inside a degree. A Kessler layup made it 119-116 and Utah regained management when the ball went out of bounds on a Raptors possession.

Sexton was fouled as he drove to the online with 11.3 seconds left within the recreation. He made one among two free throws to make it a four-point recreation.

After the ball was inbounded to him, Horton-Tucker ran deep into the defensive finish of the courtroom and was fouled. He made each of his free throws for the ultimate rating of the sport.

SIAKAM ALL-STAR NOD — Siakam, Minnesota guard Anthony Edwards and Sacramento guard De’Aaron Fox have been named by NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s workplace to the all-star participant pool. They substitute Golden State’s Stephen Curry, New Orleans’ Zion Williamson and Phoenix’s Kevin Durant — all of whom are injured and can be unable to play within the Feb. 19 recreation in Salt Lake Metropolis.

UP NEXT — Toronto hosts the Detroit Pistons and former head coach Dwane Casey on Sunday afternoon.

Utah travels to New York to play the Knicks on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 10, 2023.

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