NBA: Raptors sink Thunder for sixth straight home victory

FILE–Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors. Mark Blinch/Getty Images/AFP

Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 14 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder 128-111 on Thursday night.

Jakob Poeltl added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won two in a row and increased their home winning streak to six.

The teams split two games this season.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 23 points for the Raptors (34-36), who were playing the second of three in a row at home. Fred VanVleet and Scottie Barnes each chipped in 19 points and O.G. Anunoby scored 17 points.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points for the Thunder (34-36), who had a three-game winning streak end. Jalen Williams scored 15 points, Josh Giddey scored 13 points, Tre Mann and Isaiah Joe each scored 12 points. Luguentz Dort added 10 points.

The Raptors, who led by as many as 11 points, took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Toronto scored the first five points of the fourth quarter. Toronto led by 12 with 9:33 to play when Siakam made a 3-pointer. Poeltl made four straight free throws to bump the lead to 16 with 6:11 remaining. The lead reached 20 when Trent hit a 3-pointer with 4:52 to play.

HEADTOPPPPPPP ???? pic.twitter.com/zmPe1YMJ1D

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 17, 2023

Toronto led 29-28 after one quarter.

Trent’s steal and layup put Toronto ahead by six points with 6:53 left in the second quarter. After the Thunder tied the game at 50, the Raptors went on a 12-4 spurt. Gilgeous-Alexander finished the first-half scoring with a 3-pointer, trimming Toronto’s lead to 64-59.

Toronto shot 54.3 percent (25-for-46) in the first half, with Siakam scoring 16 points.

“I just wanted to be aggressive, be decisive, play with a little more energy, that was my mindset,” said Siakam.

All five starters reached double figures for Toronto which delighted the top-scorer.

“We have to have games where we all play well, we can do it, just need to play together, communicate,” he said.

Oklahoma City shot 50 percent (25-for-50) in the half, led by 19 points from Gilgeous-Alexander.

Toronto opened the third quarter with an 8-2 surge. Giddey’s 11-foot floater cut the deficit to six with 5:55 left in the third.

Toronto responded with four straight points. Mann and Joe hit consecutive 3-pointers that cut the deficit to four with 3:37 remaining. Toronto answered with four consecutive points. Toronto led 93-87 after three quarters.

Field Level Media/with reports from Agence France-Presse

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