Breaking: Thunder Triumph in 2OT Battle, Overcoming Raptors 135-127 Despite Toronto’s Early Lead….

The Toronto Raptors faced the Oklahoma City Thunder in a thrilling match that extended to two overtime periods, ultimately resulting in a 135-127 victory for the Thunder. Despite the Raptors building a significant 23-point lead in the third period, they couldn’t maintain their momentum against the youthful Thunder team.

 

RJ BARRETT WITH THE POSTER 🤯 pic.twitter.com/90poM4vyEV

— Ahn Fire Digital (@AhnFireDigital) February 5, 2024

Jakob Poeltl had an outstanding game, recording 19 points and 12 rebounds with an impressive 8-for-9 shooting from the field. Gary Trent Jr. added 16 points, and Dennis Schroder’s 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists led the Raptors’ bench efforts.

Despite the Raptors’ defensive efforts to contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder’s star player managed to finish with 23 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds. Lu Dort and Josh Giddey played crucial roles for the Thunder, contributing 22 and 24 points, respectively. Aaron Wiggins provided a spark with his perimeter shooting, making three of his four three-pointers in the third period.

The Raptors initially showcased a promising performance, building a lead and executing Coach Darko Rajakovic’s strategies effectively. However, their defensive efforts weakened in the third period, allowing the Thunder to claw back into the game. Despite the Raptors’ apparent fatigue, they managed to force the game into overtime, where they struggled to execute effective plays.

 

Raptors hold the Thunder to 47 points on 42.2% shooting, tied for the 2nd fewest points the Thunder have scored in a first half this season.

It's just the 7th time that OKC has been down double-digits at halftime this season. pic.twitter.com/WhieKw10Br

— Keerthika Uthayakumar (@keerthikau) February 5, 2024

In overtime, the Thunder took control as the Raptors’ offense, led by Quickley, lost steam. The lack of clear plans during timeouts and the visible fatigue of key players like Barnes contributed to the Raptors’ downfall. The Thunder secured the win in the second overtime, with key plays from Dort, Wiggins, and Giddey.

Despite the loss, the Raptors showed glimpses of improvement, especially in the first half, but ultimately fell short against the Thunder’s resilience and youthful energy.