Raptors’ six-game win streak ends against Phoenix
Global News
It took a good game by one of the league's best teams, playing at full strength, to end Toronto's six-game winning streak.
TORONTO – It took a good game by one of the league’s best teams, playing at full strength, to end Toronto’s six-game winning streak.
And that had the Raptors looking at the positives on Tuesday.
OG Anunoby had 25 points, and Pascal Siakam added 22, but the Raptors dropped a 99-95 decision to the league-leading Phoenix Suns, in a game that went down the final seconds.
“You just got to appreciate the fight, be proud of the fight,” said Fred VanVleet. “That was a really intense, tough game, That’s probably as good as it gets without a crowd in there. (The Suns) certainly raised their level, there’s a reason why they have the best record in the NBA, it’s because they play that way every night.
“I thought that we answered the call. I thought it was a good test for us.”
Jae Crowder had 19 points, while Chris Paul had 15 points and 12 assists to top the Suns (31-9).
A day after he’d been named Eastern Conference player of the week for the first time in his career, VanVleet finished with 21 points. Chris Boucher hauled down a game-high 16 rebounds to go with 13 points for the Raptors (20-18), who were missing a pair of starters in rookie Scottie Barnes (knee soreness) and Gary Trent Jr. (ankle).
“Played ’em tough,” said coach Nick Nurse. “It was a physical game, kind of slow-paced and grinding, I thought they were definitely trying to out-physical us and we hung in there really good. I thought we handled it well, and actually played really physical ourselves.
