TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors are getting sharper within the fourth quarter, and it’s getting them into the win column.
Scottie Barnes had seven issues, RJ Barrett added six, and Jakob Poeltl had 9 as Toronto outscored the Indiana Pacers 29-27 within the ultimate length of the Raptors’ 122-111 victory on Tuesday. It used to be Toronto’s 2d consecutive win and 3rd in 4 video games.
“I feel we’re simply beginning to determine find out how to win a few of these video games on the finish,” stated Barrett. “I feel we’ve additionally been doing a excellent task from the beginning and giving ourselves a lead, in order that even if groups make a run, we’re nonetheless OK, as a substitute of simply going all of the method down.”
That used to be precisely the case on Tuesday, with the Raptors main Indiana by way of up to 24 issues however the Pacers closed the distance within the fourth with an 8-0 run pulling Indiana to inside of a ownership and not more than seven mins much less to play.
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That led to Toronto head trainer Darko Rajakovic to name a timeout and settle his workforce down.
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“He used to be very calm in that timeout,” stated Barrett, who’s from Mississauga, Ont. “He simply spoke to us, and we knew what to do, and we spoke back.”
Having the ability to reply wasn’t the Raptors’ sturdy go well with to begin the season. 8 in their 15 losses this season were by way of six or fewer issues. 5 were a one-possession sport, with Toronto dropping by way of 3 or fewer issues.
Rajakovic stated that within the pivotal timeout he reminded his avid gamers that they simply had to concentrate on one ownership at a time.
“We were given in reality serious about us, how we’re executing at the offensive finish and defensive finish,” stated Rajakovic. “I believed that our execution down the stretch within the ultimate 4 to 5 mins used to be in reality, in reality excellent.
“I feel we’re getting higher in that side.”
Barnes, who completed with a career-high 35 issues, agreed together with his trainer.
“That fourth quarter, we did an ideal task locking in, getting stops, the stops that had been in reality wanted,” he stated. “We weren’t fouling up to we had been within the 3rd quarter.
“When it got here all the way down to in reality seeking to get a forestall and focal point and lock in, we all know we were given it accomplished.”
Barnes and Barrett were a potent mixture, sharing playmaking tasks whilst place to begin guard Immanuel Quickley continues to get better from a partly torn UCL.
Barrett completed with 29 issues, narrowly lacking out on his fourth consecutive sport at Scotiabank Area with 30 or extra issues. He grinned when requested about pairing with Barnes.
“Seems excellent, don’t it? Seems excellent. I love enjoying with Scottie,” stated Barrett. “Yeah, no. I imply, it’s a laugh, you realize? It’s a laugh.
“I feel we supplement each and every different. I feel we don’t step on each and every different’s feet in any respect.”
This document by way of The Canadian Press used to be first revealed Dec. 3, 2024.
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