Utah Jazz fall short against Leonard, Toronto Raptors
The Utah Jazz nearly withstood career nights from both Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, but ultimately fell by just six points to the Toronto Raptors.
If someone told be prior to tip-off that the Toronto Raptors’ two best active players were about to have career highs in points, I would be thinking the Utah Jazz were headed for a blowout. Astoundingly, the Jazz held strong despite a combined 73-point effort from Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, and still had every chance to win the game coming down the stretch.
In the end, though, they fell 122-116 at Scotiabank Arena.
The Jazz struggled to make anything outside the paint from the outset, but a tremendous shooting night from Jae Crowder (30 points, 5-of-7 from three) and huge production from Derrick Favors (21 points, nine boards, two blocks) were enough to keep Utah in the game.
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Unfortunately, Ricky Rubio‘s presence and poor shooting nights from Donovan Mitchell and Joe Ingles nullified the work done by Crowder and Favors. The starting trio of Rubio, Mitchell and Ingles combined for 35 points on 45 field goal attempts.
Dante Exum was a huge bright spot for Utah coming off the bench. The squad started playing with a greater sense of urgency as soon as Dante stepped on the court. He was repeatedly starting the blender with electrifying drives to the hoop and putting Toronto’s defense in scramble mode. But for whatever reason, Quin Snyder elected to close the game with Rubio in the lineup over Exum.
I’m sure Snyder had some method to this madness, but between Rubio’s poor shooting, his complete inability to contain the ball and stay in front of his man defensively, and Toronto leaving him alone to stack up on the ball handler, it’s absolutely baffling to me that Rubio was on the court to close that game.
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The Jazz were on the receiving end of several bad calls in the third quarter, contributing to Leonard’s 17 free-throw attempts (which is still nothing compared to the mockery James Harden is making of the NBA in Houston). But you must give the Raptors credit where it is due.
Leonard is one of the NBA’s marquee players, and the Jazz were unfortunate to catch him on a night where he looked invincible. The former Finals MVP and two-time Defensive Player of the Year was ultimately the deciding factor and propelled the Raptors to a 122-116 victory.
The Jazz will be in action again as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers from Quicken Loans Arena on Friday.
Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com