Raptors Storm Back To Stun Clippers In Fourth-quarter Comeback

The Toronto Raptors completed a double-digit comeback to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 125-118 at the Intuit Dome.

Toronto, which did not take its first lead until the final two minutes, came through with a clutch fourth-quarter rally to secure the win.

The Raptors found themselves in a similar position against the Lakers the previous night, but their comeback attempt fell short. This time, however, Toronto learned from that experience and finished the job with a hard-fought victory.

The Raptors continued to experiment with their options at centre, giving Trayce Jackson-Davis an opportunity last night before turning to Collin Murray-Boyles tonight, as Jakob Poeltl did not play.

Both teams traded possessions early, with neither side looking particularly sharp offensively. Trading baskets remained the theme for much of the opening quarter, as both teams struggled to find a consistent rhythm.

However, the Clippers began to create some separation behind their three-point shooting. Kobe Sanders led the charge late in the frame, scoring 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc as the Raptors had no answer for him. 

Los Angeles closed the quarter on a 17-5 run, extending its lead to as many as 13 points before heading into the second quarter with an 11-point advantage. 

Toronto looked sloppy down the stretch and simply didn’t do enough to start the game.

The Raptors showed some signs of life to start the second quarter, with Immanuel Quickley getting Toronto on the board before Scottie Barnes added his first basket of the night. Barnes, who entered the game questionable, had been relatively quiet through the opening stretch. 

RJ Barrett also provided a spark offensively, knocking down a three-pointer before scoring on a post-up jumper against former teammate Gradey Dick to bring his total to 16 points. 

Toronto’s three-point shooting and defensive effort improved, but the Clippers continued to respond whenever the Raptors threatened to build momentum.

Brook Lopez continued to give Toronto problems, taking advantage of the Raptors’ smaller lineup on both ends of the floor. 

Turnovers also became a major issue for Toronto, with seven giveaways leading to nine Clippers points. Dick continued to put together a strong performance as Los Angeles extended its lead to as many as 15 points. 

Toronto also had to manage much of the quarter without Barrett, who picked up his third personal foul. The Raptors had plenty of work to do after heading into halftime trailing 63-52.

Toronto came out of the halftime break with much better energy, as Barnes, Walter and Murray-Boyles helped spark a 6-0 run to cut the Clippers’ lead to five. The strong start forced Los Angeles to call an early timeout, but the Clippers quickly settled back into the game and restored their nine-point advantage.

Dick and Sanders continued to build on their impressive nights, with Dick making an impact across the floor and Sanders knocking down a three-pointer to cap an 11-3 Clippers run. 

Toronto continued to struggle offensively, with Barrett providing a strong performance but receiving very little help from the rest of the lineup.

Jamison Battle provided a much-needed spark off the bench, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to bring his total to 12 points. Battle was particularly effective from beyond the arc, shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range. 

Although Toronto showed some improvement towards the end of the quarter, the Clippers maintained control and carried a 13-point lead into the fourth. The Raptors needed a strong final quarter, similar to last night if they wanted  to make a comeback.

Toronto opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets from Alijah Martin and Scottie Barnes, who quietly recorded a double-double. Barnes and RJ Barrett began to find a rhythm together offensively, helping Toronto chip away at the deficit, while Immanuel Quickley added a pull-up three-pointer to cut the lead to eight. 

However, foul trouble continued to be an issue for the Raptors, with Ja’Kobe Walter picking up his fifth personal foul and Barrett his fourth, allowing the Clippers to extend their advantage back to 12. 

Los Angeles also lost Brook Lopez to fouls, as he fouled out with five minutes remaining, giving Toronto a potential opening to make a push.

With both teams showing signs of fatigue, Toronto continued to battle and took advantage of opportunities at the free-throw line to work its way back into the game. 

Barnes, Quickley and Barrett had carried much of the offensive load throughout the night, and they delivered when it mattered most. Barrett converted a tough layup with under three minutes remaining to tie the game at 109, capping a remarkable 16-4 Raptors run. 

Barnes followed with a difficult turnaround fadeaway to give Toronto its first lead of the night. Some clutch free throws from Barnes, Murray-Boyles and Quickley, combined with vintage defensive intensity down the stretch, helped the Raptors complete the fourth-quarter comeback and escape Los Angeles with a hard-fought victory.

Although it was far from a perfect performance, the Raptors showed resilience and refused to give up, earning a crucial victory.

Barnes, Quickley and Barrett led the way for Toronto with strong performances. However, there is still room for improvement, particularly with their three-point shooting, free-throw efficiency and ability to get off to a stronger start.

Raptors fans were hoping to see Kawhi Leonard face his former team, but neither Leonard nor Brandon Ingram suited up. Dick, however, delivered a solid performance against his former team, while Sanders led the Clippers with 26 points. Despite his efforts, Los Angeles could not hold on to its lead and fell to 1-6 on the season.

The Raptors, now 4-3, will enjoy a well-deserved day off tomorrow before travelling to Denver to take on the Nuggets on Wednesday. Tip-off is scheduled for 9 p.m.