Game ID: 22400388
Houston Rockets @ Toronto Raptors
Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 6:00 PM ET
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
TOR 35 22 26 27 110HOU 24 27 33 30 114
HOU @ TOR ScoutingHOU @ 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.
TOR availability going into 12/09 · 1 day's restOUT Quickley missed 13 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/05 after 5, 29 min since (98% of 29)
NEW Poeltl 30 to 35 min over the last 4
TOR availability going into 12/12 · 2 days' restOUT Quickley missed 14 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Shead missed 2 since 12/07, returns tonight: 14 min (70% of 20)
OUT Boucher missed 2 since 12/07, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/05 after 5, 30 min since (101% of 29)
NEW Poeltl 30 to 35 min over the last 4
TOR availability going into 12/16 · 3 days' restOUT Quickley missed 15 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Boucher missed 3 since 12/07, returns tonight: 21 min (121% of 17)
BACK Dick back 12/05 after 5, 30 min since (102% of 29)
BACK Shead back 12/12 after 2, 14 min since (70% of 20)
TOR availability going into 12/19 · 2 days' restOUT Barnes missed 2 since 12/12, returns tonight: 36 min (111% of 33)
OUT Quickley missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Dick back 12/05 after 5, 31 min since (104% of 29)
BACK Shead back 12/12 after 2, 13 min since (66% of 20)
BACK Boucher back 12/16 after 3, 21 min since (121% of 17)
TOR availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Quickley missed 17 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Lawson missed 2 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Barnes back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (111% of 33)
BACK Shead back 12/12 after 2, 17 min since (87% of 20)
BACK Boucher back 12/16 after 3, 20 min since (115% of 17)
NEW Mogbo 20 to 26 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Barrett missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 33 min (103% of 32)
OUT Poeltl missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Mitchell missed 2 since 12/19, returns tonight: 12 min (50% of 25)
OUT Lawson missed 3 since 12/16, returns tonight: 4 min (22% of 19)
BACK Barnes back 12/19 after 2, 38 min since (115% of 33)
BACK Shead back 12/12 after 2, 21 min since (108% of 20)
BACK Boucher back 12/16 after 3, 20 min since (114% of 17)
NEW Mogbo 20 to 25 min over the last 5
TOR availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Poeltl missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Quickley missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Barnes back 12/19 after 2, 37 min since (114% of 33)
BACK Barrett back 12/23 after 2, 33 min since (103% of 32)
BACK Mitchell back 12/23 after 2, 12 min since (50% of 25)
BACK Shead back 12/12 after 2, 21 min since (108% of 20)
BACK Lawson back 12/23 after 3, 4 min since (22% of 19)
BACK Boucher back 12/16 after 3, 19 min since (113% of 17)
TOR availability going into 12/29 · 2 days' restOUT Poeltl missed 4 since 12/19, returns tonight: 27 min (90% of 30)
OUT Quickley missed 20 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Shead missed 2 since 12/23, returns tonight: 25 min (128% of 20)
BACK Barnes back 12/19 after 2, 37 min since (112% of 33)
BACK Barrett back 12/23 after 2, 34 min since (104% of 32)
BACK Mitchell back 12/23 after 2, 20 min since (79% of 25)
BACK Lawson back 12/23 after 3, 5 min since (26% of 19)
BACK Boucher back 12/16 after 3, 20 min since (115% of 17)
TOR availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Quickley missed 21 since 11/12, out tonight
BACK Barnes back 12/19 after 2, 36 min since (111% of 33)
BACK Barrett back 12/23 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
BACK Poeltl back 12/29 after 4, 27 min since (90% of 30)
BACK Mitchell back 12/23 after 2, 20 min since (79% of 25)
BACK Shead back 12/29 after 2, 25 min since (128% of 20)
BACK Lawson back 12/23 after 3, 5 min since (26% of 19)
HOU availability going into 12/08 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 7 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 23 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 4 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 6 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (65% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 8 min since (65% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 2 min since (17% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/05, returns tonight: 24 min (101% of 24)
OUT Whitmore missed 8 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 24 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 5 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 7 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Adams back 11/27 after 2, 10 min since (66% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 11/27 after 2, 11 min since (86% of 13)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/14 · 2 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 9 since 11/22, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 25 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Landale missed 6 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 8 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 24 min since (101% of 24)
BACK Tate back 12/03 after 4, 10 min since (89% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/19 · 4 days' restOUT Whitmore missed 10 since 11/22, returns tonight: 3 min (22% of 15)
OUT Dante missed 26 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 15 min (126% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 7 since 11/27, returns tonight: 2 min (17% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 9 since 11/23, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 2 since 12/11, returns tonight: 2 min (18% of 11)
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 37 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/22 · 2 days' restOUT Dante missed 27 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 10 since 11/23, out tonight
BACK Eason back 12/11 after 2, 21 min since (86% of 24)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 3 min since (22% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (126% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 2 min since (17% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 2 min since (18% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Eason missed 2 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 28 since 10/23, out tonight
OUT Jef. Green missed 11 since 11/23, returns tonight: 7 min (57% of 12)
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 9 min since (57% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (88% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 3 min since (23% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 9 min since (76% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Eason missed 3 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 29 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 15 min since (97% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (111% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 4 min since (30% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 7 min since (57% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 11 min since (94% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 36 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/23, out tonight
OUT Eason missed 4 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 30 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 18 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 15 min since (121% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 12 min since (109% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 34 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/23, returns tonight: 40 min (126% of 32)
OUT Eason missed 5 since 12/19, out tonight
OUT Dante missed 31 since 10/23, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 12/19 after 10, 17 min since (109% of 15)
BACK Sheppard back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (104% of 12)
BACK Landale back 12/19 after 7, 5 min since (42% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 12/23 after 11, 8 min since (67% of 12)
BACK Tate back 12/19 after 2, 13 min since (116% of 11)
NEW Smith Jr. 29 to 35 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 115, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Barrett at 23 and Dick at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Without Quickley (17 straight), Lawson (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 19 free throws a game; Green at 21 and Sengun at 18 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Toronto minus-6 and the defense, Houston allowing 104 a night to Toronto's 115. Call it Houston 111, Toronto 109, Toronto keeping it close.
12/09 vs NYK 108-113 — TOR notes
TOR lost 108-113. TOR took 14 more shots (96 to 82), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to NYK's 51%, 13 of 35 from three, and got to the line 11 times to NYK's 19. The glass went 51-40 for them. Barrett led with 30 (13 of 24, 3 of 7 from three); Walter added 19, Barnes 15. Q2 was theirs, 34-26, turning a 7-point deficit into a 1-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 87-74 against them. Mogbo's -17 in 23 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/12 @ MIA 104-114 — TOR notes
TOR lost 104-114. TOR took 9 more shots (92 to 83), but shot 45% to MIA's 48%, 11 of 32 from three, and got to the line 15 times to MIA's 32. The glass went 42-52 against them. Dick led with 22 (8 of 19, 3 of 11 from three); Poeltl added 16, Barrett 13. Q1 was theirs, 27-23, but the other 3 periods went 91-77 against them. They led by as many as 16.
12/16 vs CHI 121-122 — TOR notes
TOR lost 121-122. TOR shot 49% (45 of 92) to CHI's 46%, 9 of 26 from three. TOR turned it over 18 times to CHI's 12, and CHI turned those into 12 steals. Barrett led with 32 (11 of 24, 2 of 4 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Dick added 27, Agbaji 15. Q4 was theirs, 37-27, the deficit cut from 11 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 95-84 against them. Boucher's -9 in 21 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs BKN 94-101 — TOR notes
TOR lost 94-101. TOR shot 40% (34 of 86) to BKN's 40%, 15 of 44 from three, and got to the line 14 times to BKN's 31. The glass went 34-53 against them. Agbaji led with 20 (8 of 16, 4 of 8 from three); Dick added 19, Barnes 16. Q3 was theirs, 30-18, turning a 6-point deficit into a 6-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 83-64 against them. They led by as many as 10. Mogbo's -13 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/22 vs HOU 110-114 — TOR notes
TOR lost 110-114. TOR shot 46% (42 of 92) to HOU's 45%, 17 of 43 from three, and got to the line 13 times to HOU's 33. The glass went 42-53 against them. Walter led with 27 (9 of 18, 6 of 11 from three); Agbaji added 15, Boucher 15. Q1 was theirs, 35-24, but the other 3 periods went 90-75 against them. They led by as many as 16. Walter's -14 in 28 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/23 @ NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New York comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 101, shooting 47 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brunson at 24 and Towns at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 113, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 17 free throws a game; Barrett at 25 and Dick at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Barrett (2 straight), Poeltl (2 straight), Quickley (18 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, and the game turns on the defense, New York allowing 101 a night to Toronto's 113 and the glass, where New York has been plus-1 a night and Toronto minus-5. Call it New York 116, Toronto 105, New York by 11.
12/26 @ MEM — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Memphis comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Morant at 20 and Jackson Jr. at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Williams Jr. (15 straight). 2 days' rest. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 118, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 23 and Dick at 20 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. Without Poeltl (3 straight), Quickley (19 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Memphis wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Memphis has been plus-8 a night and Toronto minus-8 and the arc, Memphis at 45 percent from three to Toronto's 36. Call it Memphis 122, Toronto 111, Memphis by 11.
12/29 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 126, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 27 and Barnes at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. Without Poeltl (4 straight), Quickley (20 straight), Shead (2 straight). 2 days' rest. Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 122, shooting 50 percent and 41 from three, 25 free throws a game; Hunter at 25 and Young at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 4 a night. Without Okongwu (5 straight), Bogdanović (3 straight), Gueye (24 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been plus-4 a night and Toronto minus-11 and the arc, Atlanta at 41 percent from three to Toronto's 36. Call it Toronto 120, Atlanta 119, Atlanta keeping it close.
12/31 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 30 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. Without Holiday (3 straight), Porziņģis (2 straight). One day's rest. Toronto comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 129, shooting 46 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Barrett at 22 and Barnes at 18 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Quickley (21 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-6 a night and Toronto minus-9 and the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Toronto's 129. Call it Boston 123, Toronto 110, Boston by 13.
12/08 @ LAC 117-106 — HOU notes
HOU won 117-106. HOU shot 49% (40 of 82) to LAC's 45%, 15 of 41 from three, and went to the line 26 times to LAC's 16 — 22 points from the stripe to their 13. HOU turned it over 15 times to LAC's 7, and LAC turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 50-33 for them. Green led with 31 (9 of 20, 5 of 13 from three, 8 of 8 at the line); Thompson added 22, Brooks 19. The hinge was Q2, 34-24: a lead of 2 became 12, and the lead reached 16. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +13.
12/11 vs GSW 91-90 — HOU notes
HOU won 91-90. HOU shot 46% (38 of 83) to GSW's 44%, 6 of 27 from three. Sengun led with 26 (10 of 18, 6 of 7 at the line); Smith Jr. added 15, Ja. Green 12. The hinge was Q2, 24-19: a lead of 2 became 7.
12/14 @ OKC 96-111 — HOU notes
HOU lost 96-111. HOU took 16 more shots (96 to 80), fed by 19 offensive rebounds, but shot 36% to OKC's 45%, 11 of 46 from three, and got to the line 25 times to OKC's 32. Thompson led with 19 (9 of 15); Smith Jr. added 14, Brooks 14. Q1 was theirs, 20-18, but the other 3 periods went 93-76 against them. Green's -16 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/19 vs NOP 133-113 — HOU notes
HOU won 133-113. HOU shot 57% (50 of 87) to NOP's 45%, 17 of 39 from three, and got to the line 19 times to NOP's 25. Ja. Green led with 34 (13 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Brooks added 26, Sengun 23. The hinge was Q1, 39-25: from level to 14 ahead, and the lead reached 26. VanVleet was the night's best plus/minus at +25.
12/22 @ TOR 114-110 — HOU notes
HOU won 114-110. HOU shot 45% (40 of 89) to TOR's 46%, 7 of 28 from three, and went to the line 33 times to TOR's 13 — 27 points from the stripe to their 9. The glass went 53-42 for them. Brooks led with 27 (6 of 12, 2 of 7 from three, 13 of 14 at the line); Green added 22, Sengun 17. The hinge was Q3, 33-26: HOU came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 1. HOU trailed 51-57 at the half and won the second half 63-53. Tate was the night's best plus/minus at +14.
12/23 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 114, shooting 44 percent and 28 from three, 23 free throws a game; Miller at 20 and Bridges at 17 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Miller (2 straight), Gra. Williams (12 straight), Mann (13 straight). 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 46 percent and 31 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 22 and Brooks at 19 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Eason (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 106 a night to Charlotte's 114. Call it Houston 111, Charlotte 108, Charlotte keeping it close.
12/26 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 120, shooting 44 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Murphy III at 22 and McCollum at 21 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Williamson (21 straight), Alvarado (19 straight), Payton (8 straight). 3 days' rest. Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 105, shooting 45 percent and 30 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brooks at 19 and Sengun at 19 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 7 a night. Without Eason (3 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Houston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Houston allowing 105 a night to New Orleans's 120 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and New Orleans minus-3. Call it Houston 114, New Orleans 108.
12/27 vs MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 109, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 24 free throws a game; Brooks at 22 and Green at 21 a game. That is 4 straight wins. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Brooks (2 straight), Eason (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Minnesota comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 16 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and Randle at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Minnesota minus-2 and the line, where Houston takes 24 free throws a game to Minnesota's 16. Call it Houston 113, Minnesota 106.
12/29 vs MIA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 23 free throws a game; Green at 21 and Sengun at 21 a game. It has won the glass by 10 a night. Without Brooks (3 straight), Eason (5 straight). One day's rest. Miami comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 106, shooting 45 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; Herro at 23 and Adebayo at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Butler III (4 straight), Richardson (16 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-10 a night and Miami minus-4. Call it Houston 114, Miami 106.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
TORCB C. Boucher
GD G. Dick
JB J. Battle
JM J. Mogbo
JS J. Shead
JW J. Walter
KO K. Olynyk
OA O. Agbaji
SB S. Barnes
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
CW C. Whitmore
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JT J. Tate
JG Ja. Green
RS R. Sheppard
TOR/HOU 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
Brooks scores 27 points as Rockets beat Raptors 114-110 for first win in Toronto since 2019
TORONTO -- — Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, Jalen Green had 22 and the Houston Rockets won in Toronto for the first time in more than five years by beating the struggling Raptors 114-110 on Sunday night.
Alperen Sengun had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who hadn’t won in Toronto since Dec. 5, 2019. Current Rockets guard Fred VanVleet scored 20 points for the reigning NBA-champion Raptors in that game.
Ja’Kobe Walter fouled out with a career-high 27 points and Chris Boucher and Ochai Agbaji each added 15 as Toronto’s losing streak reached seven. The Raptors have lost six straight at home.
Walter scored Toronto’s first 14 points of the game, a run that ended when Gradey Dick made a free throw with 7:06 remaining in the opening period.
Jamal Shead had 11 points and a career-high 10 assists for the Raptors.
Toronto’s RJ Barrett missed his second straight game because of an illness.
Takeaways Rockets: VanVleet was injured when the Rockets lost at Toronto last season. In his first appearance as a visitor, he had eight rebounds and five assists but didn’t score until the final minute of the game. VanVleet shot 1 for 10, missing all five of his 3-point attempts.
Raptors: Scottie Barnes had 10 rebounds but scored only six points. He shot 2 for 15 and went 0 for 8 from distance, missing his first eight field goal attempts.
Key moment Sengun fed Cam Whitmore for a one-handed alley-oop dunk that gave Houston a 99-91 lead, its biggest of the game at that point, with 6:58 left in the fourth quarter.
Key stat Houston allowed 23 points on 14 turnovers in the first half. It cleaned things up after the break, but its 21 turnovers were a season-worst.
Up next Both teams play on the road Monday, with Houston in Charlotte and Toronto visiting New York.