Growing pains as young Toronto Raptors hold off Houston Rockets 107-104

TORONTO – There are games when the Toronto Raptors have to learn on the job. Veteran center Jakob Poeltl is eager to take those lessons.

Immanuel Quickley scored 25 points to lead the Raptors to a 107-104 win over the Houston Rockets on Friday as Toronto welcomed back former star Fred VanVleet. The Raptors led by 23 points, but the game was decided by one shot, something Poeltl said was discussed in the locker room after the game.

“It's a good win for us and a learning experience when it comes to the game,” said Poeltl, 28, after eight seasons in the NBA. One of Toronto's most experienced players. “Cleaning up the defensive mistakes, cleaning it up, even the rebounds at the end of the game.

“It kept them in the game a little bit. A little better organized. Things like that.”

Mississauga's RJ Barrett had 21 points and a season-high seven assists as Toronto (19-33) won back-to-back games.

Scotty Barnes and Poeltl each had a double-double. Barnes had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists, while Poeltl had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

“We've got to stay a little more aggressive,” Poeltl said. “It's one thing to not play wild and try to control your lead.

“We want to play smart, but we made it a little bit easier for them to get stops late in the game.”

Jabari Smith Jr. had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds as Houston (23-28) dropped its third straight. Mississauga's Dillon Brooks scored 20 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter.

“We've got to bring that intensity up from the start,” Brooks said. “Our starters, myself included, were slow. We cannot dig such pits ourselves.”

VanVleet, who began his career with the Raptors and won an NBA championship with the team in 2019, is back in Toronto for the first time since signing with Houston in the offseason. He agreed to a lucrative three-year, $128 million deal with the Rockets in July, but was ruled out Friday because of a left adductor strain.

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“I don't know what to expect, but I'm excited to make the trip,” Van Vleet said during the morning shootaround in Houston. “It's nice to visit some people and spend some time in my favorite places.

“It's definitely one of my favorite places in the world.”

A video tribute was played in the first quarter for VanVleet, who was given a standing ovation as the sellout crowd of 19,800 walked to midcourt to thank him. The outdoor video board at Scotiabank Arena also features a photo of VanVleet with the words “Welcome Champion.”

A 13-3 Toronto rally ended the first half as the Raptors went into halftime up 61-49. That streak continued into the third quarter, when Quickley nailed a 25-foot three-pointer early in the quarter.

The 24-year-old Quickley faked Amen Thompson in the shootout before the sprinting Rockets guard flew past him before calmly drilling a three. Quickley danced back onto the court as Toronto opened up a 23-point lead thanks to his dagger.

Reserve Raptors center Jontay Porter had five points to close the third as Toronto took an 88-71 lead in the final.

Brooks helped the Rockets in the fourth game against his hometown team, scoring 11 points in the quarter and cutting Toronto's lead to six.

Quickley made one of two free throws with 36.1 seconds to play before Holiday made a quick layup and a steal on Houston's next possession.

On the restart, Jeff Green missed a three-pointer, but the Rockets got the ball back, and Brooks drilled a 27-foot three-pointer to tie the game at one point.

“We've been talking (about his abuse),” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He was too open. We weren't close enough to break it.”

Barrett was fouled on a layup and made both free throws to restore the Raptors' lead to 107-104 with 18.2 seconds left.

Aaron Holiday missed a three-point attempt to tie the game on Houston's next possession, but then called timeout when Thompson grabbed the putback with two seconds left. The crowd chanted “DEFEND!” chants. Jeff Green hit a three-pointer from the rim to seal the win for Toronto.

NEW ARRIVALS — Guard Ochai Agbaji and Canadian center Kelly Olympique arrived in Toronto a day after the Utah Jazz traded them to the Raptors. Although both were available to play, Rajakovic rested them after spending the day traveling.

UP NEXT – Toronto hosts the Cleveland Cavaliers (34-16) on Saturday night.

Houston continues its road trip with a stop in Atlanta on Saturday against the Hawks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 9, 2024.

John Chidley-Hill, Canadian Press