Sport
Gradual get started, no Poeltl prices Raptors
TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors had been lacking two issues towards the Miami Warmth: a forged effort within the first quarter and Jakob Poeltl.
RJ Barrett of Mississauga, Ont., scored 23 of his 29 issues after halftime because the Toronto Raptors rallied towards the Warmth however in the end misplaced to Miami 120-111 in additional time on Friday. Barrett was once held scoreless within the first quarter as Toronto trailed by means of as many as 14 within the body.
“Began sluggish, however we picked it up all over the process the sport,” mentioned Barrett, who had 4 assists and 3 rebounds. “We received the second one, 3rd and fourth quarter.
“So clearly, sluggish get started there. The primary may also be the adaptation within the recreation.”
Barrett and Immanuel Quickley fuelled the Raptors’ (17-39) comeback, with 10 and 9 issues, respectively, within the 3rd quarter. Quickley completed with 23 issues, seven rebounds and 3 assists.
The fourth quarter was once nearly all Barrett.
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Barrett had 9 issues within the fourth and scored all 4 of Toronto’s issues in additional time whilst the remainder of his teammates had been 0 for six within the additional length. He mentioned he have been motivated by means of the trash communicate of former teammate Davion Mitchell, who was once despatched to Miami on Feb. 6 forward of the NBA’s business time limit as a part of the five-team deal that moved Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors.
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“(Mitchell) was once simply speaking such a lot,” mentioned Barrett. “He was once speaking whilst he had the ball prior to he even scored, after which he made the layup, after which (Scottie Barnes) heard it.
“Scottie referred to as a play for me, after which I went again, and I scored after which roughly simply were given rolling from there. The trash communicate, amusing a part of the sport helped get me going evidently.”
Raptors head trainer Darko Rajakovic mentioned that popping out flat within the first quarter value his workforce the win.
“I assumed the sport was once just about within the first quarter,” mentioned Rajakovic. “The best way we unfolded the primary quarter, having seven turnovers there, that set us up truly for a deficient defensive efficiency.
“We received the second one, 3rd, and fourth quarter, however we wish to have a greater begin to the sport, and that was once a large emphasis for us as of late.”
Even supposing it was once simplest the 8th recreation this season the place Barrett, Quickley, and Barnes were given to play in combination, it was once Poeltl’s absence that Rajakovic mentioned had the most important affect at the recreation. The 29-year-old centre hasn’t performed since Feb. 4, out with a proper hip pointer.
“No longer having Jak, who’s our connection, he’s the glue for our workforce, the way in which he units displays, the way in which he areas the ground, the way in which we play thru him,” mentioned Rajakovic. “It’s onerous to judge with out that impact at the courtroom.”
Poeltl’s absence additionally allowed Warmth ahead Bam Adebayo loose reign, scoring 19 issues and flattening 12 rebounds. Miami had 54 issues within the paint to Toronto’s 36.
Barnes in short left the sport within the first quarter after rolling his ankle however returned to complete with 13 issues and 6 rebounds in 38 mins of play.
This record by means of The Canadian Press was once first printed Feb. 21, 2025.
&replica 2025 The Canadian Press
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