Game ID: 22300516
Toronto Raptors @ Los Angeles Lakers
Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 10:30 PM ET
Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
LAL 28 23 37 44 132TOR 24 29 36 42 131
LAL vs TOR ScoutingLAL vs TOR Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
LAL availability going into 12/31 · back-to-backOUT Vincent missed 5 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 18 min since (105% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 24 min since (172% of 14)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Reddish 20 to 26 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Vincent missed 6 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 21 min since (118% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 27 min since (190% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Russell missed 2 since 12/31, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 7 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 22 min since (124% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 27 min since (194% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Russell missed 3 since 12/31, returns tonight: 31 min (94% of 33)
OUT Hachimura missed 2 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 8 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Wood back 12/28 after 2, 20 min since (118% of 17)
BACK Christie back 12/28 after 3, 26 min since (181% of 14)
LAL availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 3 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 9 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 1/05, out tonight
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 31 min since (94% of 33)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 14 to 23 min over the last 4
LAL availability going into 1/11 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 4 since 1/03, out tonight
OUT Vincent missed 10 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 3 since 1/05, returns tonight: 13 min (107% of 12)
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 24 min since (72% of 33)
NEW Prince 27 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Christie 14 to 22 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/13 · 1 day's restOUT Hachimura missed 5 since 1/03, returns tonight: 19 min (69% of 27)
OUT Vincent missed 11 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 25 min since (76% of 33)
BACK Hayes back 1/11 after 3, 13 min since (107% of 12)
NEW Christie 14 to 21 min over the last 5
LAL availability going into 1/15 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 12 since 12/21, out tonight
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 29 min since (88% of 33)
BACK Hachimura back 1/13 after 5, 19 min since (69% of 27)
BACK Hayes back 1/11 after 3, 13 min since (107% of 12)
LAL availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Vincent missed 13 since 12/21, out tonight
OUT Hayes missed 2 since 1/13, returns tonight: 5 min (39% of 12)
BACK Russell back 1/07 after 3, 30 min since (92% of 33)
BACK Hachimura back 1/13 after 5, 19 min since (72% of 27)
TOR availability going into 1/01 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 30 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 4 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 7 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 8 min since (52% of 15)
BACK Porter Jr. back 12/22 after 5, 11 min since (94% of 12)
BACK McDaniels back 12/22 after 2, 13 min since (124% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/03 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 31 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter missed 5 since 12/23, returns tonight: 7 min (52% of 14)
OUT Temple missed 8 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 6 min since (39% of 15)
NEW McDaniels 11 to 17 min over the last 3
TOR availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 32 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT McDaniels missed 2 since 1/01, returns tonight: 7 min (68% of 11)
OUT Temple missed 9 since 12/18, out tonight
BACK Young back 12/27 after 4, 6 min since (39% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 7 min since (52% of 14)
TOR availability going into 1/07 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 5 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 33 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Young missed 2 since 1/03, returns tonight: 4 min (24% of 15)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 1/01, out tonight
OUT Temple missed 10 since 12/18, returns tonight: 4 min (35% of 11)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 10 min since (75% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 7 min since (68% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/09 · 1 day's restOUT Dick missed 6 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 34 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 4 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 4 min since (24% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 11 min since (78% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 11)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 4 min since (35% of 11)
NEW Poeltl 26 to 32 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 1/10 · back-to-backOUT Dick missed 7 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 35 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 5 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 16 min since (107% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 11 min since (77% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 6 min since (51% of 11)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 4 min since (35% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/12 · 1 day's restOUT Poeltl missed 2 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Dick missed 8 since 12/29, returns tonight: 12 min (58% of 21)
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 36 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 6 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 19 min since (123% of 15)
BACK Porter back 1/03 after 5, 12 min since (88% of 14)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 8 min since (75% of 11)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 6 min since (57% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/15 · 2 days' restOUT Poeltl missed 3 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 37 since 10/28, out tonight
OUT Porter Jr. missed 7 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Dick back 1/12 after 8, 12 min since (58% of 21)
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 17 min since (112% of 15)
BACK McDaniels back 1/05 after 2, 8 min since (73% of 11)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 7 min since (61% of 11)
TOR availability going into 1/17 · 1 day's restOUT Poeltl missed 4 since 1/09, out tonight
OUT Freeman-Liberty missed 38 since 10/28, returns tonight: 2 min (13% of 18)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 8 since 1/01, out tonight
BACK Dick back 1/12 after 8, 12 min since (58% of 21)
BACK Young back 1/07 after 2, 17 min since (111% of 15)
BACK Temple back 1/07 after 10, 7 min since (61% of 11)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 1-4 over their last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 29 from three, 25 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 26 a game. Without Hachimura (3 straight), Vincent (9 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 123, shooting 52 percent and 42 from three, 27 free throws a game; Siakam at 26 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (6 straight), Freeman-Liberty (34 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 42 percent from three to the Lakers' 29 and the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 15 times a game to Toronto's 10. Call it the Lakers 117, Toronto 116, Toronto keeping it close.
12/31 @ NOP 109-129 — LAL notes
LAL lost 109-129. LAL shot 48% (39 of 82) to NOP's 52%, 10 of 32 from three. The glass went 35-47 against them. James led with 34 (12 of 24, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Reaves added 20, Davis 20. Q3 was theirs, 32-30, the deficit cut from 17 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 99-77 against them. Reaves's -19 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/03 vs MIA 96-110 — LAL notes
LAL lost 96-110. LAL shot 42% (35 of 83) to MIA's 44%, 4 of 30 from three, and went to the line 24 times to MIA's 17 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. LAL turned it over 21 times to MIA's 8, and MIA turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 50-39 for them. Davis led with 29 (10 of 17, 9 of 10 at the line); Reaves added 24, Christie 14. Q3 was theirs, 22-19, the deficit cut from 8 to 5, but the other 3 periods went 91-74 against them. James's -20 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/05 vs MEM 113-127 — LAL notes
LAL lost 113-127. LAL shot 49% (42 of 85) to MEM's 54%, 10 of 28 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MEM's 20 — 19 points from the stripe to their 16. James led with 32 (11 of 24, 4 of 9 from three, 6 of 10 at the line); Davis added 31, Reaves 19. Q1 was theirs, 38-29, but the other 3 periods went 98-75 against them. They led by as many as 13. Reaves's -23 in 40 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 vs LAC 106-103 — LAL notes
LAL won 106-103. LAL shot 51% (42 of 82) to LAC's 40%, 11 of 29 from three. LAL turned it over 19 times to LAC's 14, and LAC turned those into 12 steals. James led with 25 (11 of 19, 1 of 3 from three); Davis added 22, Russell 13. The hinge was Q3, 32-24: LAL came in trailing by 4 and left it ahead by 4. LAL trailed 49-53 at the half and won the second half 57-50. Christie was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
1/09 vs TOR 132-131 — LAL notes
LAL won 132-131. LAL shot 54% (44 of 81) to TOR's 56%, 16 of 36 from three, and went to the line 36 times to TOR's 13 — 28 points from the stripe to their 8. Davis led with 41 (13 of 17, 13 of 14 at the line); James added 22, Wood 14. The hinge was Q1, 28-24: from level to 4 ahead. LAL trailed 51-53 at the half and won the second half 81-78.
1/11 vs PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 33 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 29 and James at 25 a game. Without Hachimura (4 straight), Vincent (10 straight). One day's rest. Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 25 free throws a game; Booker at 22 and Beal at 19 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the arc, Phoenix at 37 percent from three to the Lakers' 33. Call it the Lakers 116, Phoenix 115, Phoenix keeping it close.
1/13 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 124 a night and allowing 115, shooting 51 percent and 37 from three, 26 free throws a game; Markkanen at 24 and Sexton at 19 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (4 straight), Juzang (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 27 and James at 20 a game. Without Hachimura (5 straight), Vincent (11 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Utah has been plus-11 a night and the Lakers minus-1. Call it Utah 119, the Lakers 114.
1/15 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 2-3 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 124, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 26 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 22 a game. They have lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Vincent (12 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 110, shooting 55 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 32 and Holmgren at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, OKC allowing 110 a night to the Lakers' 124 and the glass, where OKC has been plus-1 a night and the Lakers minus-6. Call it OKC 121, the Lakers 115.
1/17 vs DAL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Lakers come in 3-2 over their last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 52 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Davis at 24 and James at 20 a game. Without Vincent (13 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 39 from three, 26 free throws a game; Irving at 37 and Hardaway Jr. at 24 a game. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Dončić (3 straight), Exum (7 straight). One day's rest.
So: The Lakers win, and the game turns on the turnovers, the Lakers giving it away 16 times a game to Dallas's 11 and the glass, where the Lakers have been minus-3 a night and Dallas minus-8. Call it the Lakers 118, Dallas 116, Dallas keeping it close.
1/01 vs CLE 124-121 — TOR notes
TOR won 124-121. TOR shot 48% (42 of 87) to CLE's 48%, 11 of 30 from three, and went to the line 40 times to CLE's 26 — 29 points from the stripe to their 23. Siakam led with 36 (13 of 20, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Barnes added 20, Barrett 19. The hinge was Q1, 41-32: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 19. Schröder was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
1/03 @ MEM 116-111 — TOR notes
TOR won 116-111. TOR shot 48% (41 of 85) to MEM's 43%, 12 of 26 from three, and went to the line 27 times to MEM's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 16. Quickley led with 26 (8 of 18, 5 of 8 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Siakam added 24, Barnes 20. The hinge was Q2, 32-19: a lead of 1 became 14, and the lead reached 20.
1/05 @ SAC 130-135 — TOR notes
TOR lost 130-135. TOR shot 54% (47 of 87) to SAC's 52%, 13 of 37 from three, and went to the line 27 times to SAC's 15 — 23 points from the stripe to their 10. Quickley led with 20 (6 of 17, 4 of 12 from three); Barnes added 20, Siakam 18. Q3 was theirs, 40-30, the deficit cut from 20 to 10, but the other 3 periods went 105-90 against them. Barnes's -23 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/07 @ GSW 133-118 — TOR notes
TOR won 133-118. TOR shot 59% (55 of 94) to GSW's 45%, 15 of 33 from three. Barrett led with 37 (13 of 20, 5 of 8 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Boucher added 17, Siakam 16. The hinge was Q2, 40-21: a lead of 8 became 27. Barrett was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
1/09 @ LAL 131-132 — TOR notes
TOR lost 131-132. TOR took 13 more shots (94 to 81), but shot 56% to LAL's 54%, 17 of 35 from three, and got to the line 13 times to LAL's 36. Barnes led with 26 (11 of 20, 3 of 7 from three); Siakam added 25, Barrett 23. Q2 was theirs, 29-23, turning a 4-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 109-102 against them. Porter's -8 in 10 minutes was the worst on the floor.
1/10 @ LAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
The Clippers come in 4-1 over their last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 108, shooting 53 percent and 46 from three, 22 free throws a game; George at 25 and Leonard at 21 a game. They have won the glass by 6 a night. Without Tucker (20 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 123, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 24 free throws a game; Siakam at 24 and Barrett at 21 a game. Without Dick (7 straight), Freeman-Liberty (35 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: The Clippers win, and the game turns on the defense, the Clippers allowing 108 a night to Toronto's 123 and the glass, where the Clippers have been plus-6 a night and Toronto plus-0. Call it the Clippers 121, Toronto 114.
1/12 @ UTA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Utah comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Markkanen at 26 and Clarkson at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. Without Horton-Tucker (3 straight), Juzang (13 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 124, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 20 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Siakam at 21 a game. Without Poeltl (2 straight), Dick (8 straight), Freeman-Liberty (36 straight). One day's rest.
So: Utah wins, and the game turns on the arc, Toronto at 43 percent from three to Utah's 36 and the line, where Utah takes 28 free throws a game to Toronto's 20. Call it Utah 122, Toronto 119, Toronto keeping it close.
1/15 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 131, shooting 54 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Siakam at 22 and Barrett at 20 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Poeltl (3 straight), Freeman-Liberty (37 straight). 2 days' rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 120, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 27 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 29 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 120 a night to Toronto's 131 and the glass, where Boston has been minus-1 a night and Toronto minus-6. Call it Boston 123, Toronto 119, Toronto keeping it close.
1/17 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 125, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Siakam at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Poeltl (4 straight), Freeman-Liberty (38 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 24 and Adebayo at 21 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Love (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Miami wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Miami allowing 104 a night to Toronto's 125 and the glass, where Miami has been plus-0 a night and Toronto minus-5. Call it Miami 114, Toronto 113, Toronto keeping it close.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
TORCB C. Boucher
DS D. Schröder
GT G. Trent Jr.
IQ I. Quickley
JP J. Porter
PS P. Siakam
RB R. Barrett
SB S. Barnes
SC Schroder
TY T. Young
LALAD A. Davis
AR A. Reaves
CR C. Reddish
CW C. Wood
DR D. Russell
JV J. Vanderbilt
LJ L. James
MC M. Christie
TP T. Prince
TOR/LAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Toronto coach pounds table, rips officials after Lakers hold off Raptors 132-131 behind Davis' 41
LOS ANGELES -- — Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic went on a furious, table-pounding tirade against the officiating after the Los Angeles Lakers shot 23 free throws in the fourth quarter of a 132-131 win over the Raptors on Tuesday night.
Rajakovic, Toronto's first-year Serbian head coach, ripped the game's free throw disparity after Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter while going 11 for 11 at the line in the final period. Davis shot 14 of the Lakers' 36 free throws in the game, while the entire Toronto roster shot only 13.
“It's outrageous. What happened tonight, this is completely B.S.," Rajakovic said. "This is shame. Shame for the referees. Shame for the league to allow this. Twenty-three free throws for them, and we get two free throws in the fourth quarter? Like, how to play the game? I understand respect for All-Stars and all that, but we have star players on our team as well.
“How (is it) possible that Scottie Barnes , who is All-Star-caliber player in this league, he goes every single time to the rim with force and trying to get to the rim without flopping and not trying to get foul calls, he gets two free throws for a whole game?” Rajakovic added, slapping the table repeatedly for emphasis. "How is that possible? How are you going to explain that to me?”
Davis grabbed 11 rebounds and went 13 for 17 while carrying the Lakers down the stretch against the Raptors, who were missing injured starting center Jakob Poeltl . Davis completed his masterful performance by scoring 10 points in the final 1:01, including eight free throws without a miss, and making a key block on Barnes.
Rajakovic apparently felt the officials never gave his team a chance.
“They had to win tonight? If that’s the case, just let us know, so we don’t show up for the game,” Rajakovic said. “Just give them a win. But that was not fair tonight. And this is not happening first time for us. Scottie Barnes is gonna be (an) All-Star. He’s gonna be the face of this league, and what’s happening over here during whole season … it’s complete crap.”
Barnes scored 26 points and Pascal Siakam had 25 for the Raptors, who lost for only the second time in five games since acquiring RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley from New York for OG Anunoby . Barrett scored 23 points, and Quickley had 21 with four 3-pointers for the Raptors, who lost to the Lakers on the road for just the second time in their last nine trips.
Rajakovic's rant likely will earn him a significant fine from the NBA, but his players appeared to appreciate his verbal combativeness.
“It just says that he’s all for us as a family, as a team,” said Thaddeus Young , who scored 10 points as Toronto’s starting center. “We’re always going to stick together. We’re always going to be behind one another as a family, as a team. We're always going to stick together, and he's always been behind us since Day One coming in here. We love Darko to death. We think the world of Coach, and we definitely appreciate him going to bat for us."
LeBron James had 22 points and 12 assists for the Lakers, who won back-to-back games for the first time in a month. They went 3-10 immediately after winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament in December, but they held off the Clippers on Sunday before outlasting the Raptors to get back to .500 (19-19).
“It was all of us,” said Davis, who had none of his frequent late-game struggles to hit key free throws. "It wasn't just me. Big-time stops. We got rebounds, and they wanted me to get the ball as far as free throws, but the team was just making the right reads and trying to finish.
Quickley fouled out when he elbowed Cam Reddish in the face for a flagrant foul with 3:52 to play. Gary Trent Jr. put the Raptors ahead 121-120 on a 3-pointer with 1:08 left, but Davis replied with a quick layup before blocking Barnes’ shot on the other end and adding two free throws moments later.
Barrett was called for an offensive foul that wiped out a tying 3-pointer by Barnes with 24.8 seconds to play. Davis and Austin Reaves eventually combined to hit 10 straight free throws in the final 34 seconds as Los Angeles held on despite 3-pointers by Toronto's Dennis Schröder and Siakam in the final four seconds.
Toronto played without Poeltl, sidelined indefinitely after spraining his left ankle in a win at Golden State last Sunday. The University of Utah product is averaging 10.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while leading the NBA in shooting percentage (68.5).
“We knew we had an advantage on the interior tonight, and we just tried to get it to (Davis) early and often and late,” James said.
Schröder had 10 points and six assists against the team with which he spent two of the previous three seasons. Schröder accidentally banked in a 3-pointer with four seconds to play, but Davis hit two more free throws before Trent's 3 at the buzzer.