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TORONTO — Scotiabank Arena doubles as home to the Toronto Raptors and the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs. But even though there was no ice to be seen on Tuesday, Cason Wallace still put his defender on skates.
The third-year guard sent Jamal Shead sliding across the hardwood with a between-the-legs stepback midway through the second quarter. He then finished the play by burying a 3-pointer from the right wing.
It was one of many cold-blooded buckets by Wallace, who shined during OKC's 116-107 win on a night when it was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain) and Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain). He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on 11-for-16 shooting from the field (4 for 5 from deep).
And it was only right that he iced the game. Toronto briefly tied it up with 4:06 remaining, but Wallace scored six points the rest of the way. That included a 3-footer at the 1:38 mark that served as the dagger for OKC (45-14).
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder's run to NBA title
More: 10 OKC Thunder predictions: SGA can pull off rare double trophy repeat
Even on a cold night in Toronto, the Thunder cranked up the AC.
Alex Caruso, that is.
The veteran guard dialed up the defensive pressure midway through the third quarter, swiping the ball from Immanuel Quickley and launching a fastbreak. He then zipped a pass to Lu Dort, who drilled a 3-pointer.
Caruso didn't seem hindered at all from the left ankle sprain that sidelined him for OKC's win over Cleveland on Sunday and had him listed as questionable Tuesday. He pestered opponents on the perimeter, provided some extra playmaking and delivered a scoring punch off the bench.
Caruso ended the night with 16 points, four assists and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench.
More: OKC Thunder provides injury update on SGA, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell
After finishing their pregame workout on the floor, most visiting players jog directly into the tunnel.
But in actuality, Dort was home. The Montreal native was back in Canada, and he stopped on his way to the tunnel to sign autographs for a crowd of local fans.
“It’s always good to be back here," Dort said with a smile. "Obviously, I grew up in Montreal. But this arena, this was the team we always loved when I was young. It’s good to be here, playing in front of my family and friends.”
Dort then made plenty of his signature plays once the ball tipped off.
He made life difficult for All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who was held to just 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field (2 for 4 from deep). And he also provided some much-needed floor spacing on offense with his sky-scraping shots.
Dort finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.
More: Chet Holmgren's path to NBA All-Star Game began with bold claim and channeled ambition
Raptors are never extinct in Scotiabank Arena.
Not even when Toronto trailed OKC by as many as 25 points. The Raptors still clawed their way back into the game, and Shead tied the score at 101-101 with 4:06 remaining by sinking a 3-pointer.
But OKC did just enough to win despite going 8 for 25 from the field (32%) and 1 for 7 from deep (14.3%) during the fourth quarter. It has now won five of its last six games.
More: How did Lu Dort, Thunder players buy in to OKC system? Sacrifice is 'for the better'
∎ Cason Wallace became the sixth player in OKC history to have 17 points, six rebounds and four assists at halftime, per Thunder PR. And he's the first to do so on 100% shooting from the field (7 for 7).
∎ OKC was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Toronto was without Chucky Hepburn (G League two-way), A.J. Lawson (G League two-way), Alijah Martin (G League two-way), Jonathan Mogbo (G League assignment) and Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain injury management).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
TIPOFF: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Cason Wallace, OKC Thunder fend off Raptors' frenzied comeback attempt
Continue reading...
The third-year guard sent Jamal Shead sliding across the hardwood with a between-the-legs stepback midway through the second quarter. He then finished the play by burying a 3-pointer from the right wing.
It was one of many cold-blooded buckets by Wallace, who shined during OKC's 116-107 win on a night when it was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain) and Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain and left ankle sprain). He finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and seven assists on 11-for-16 shooting from the field (4 for 5 from deep).
And it was only right that he iced the game. Toronto briefly tied it up with 4:06 remaining, but Wallace scored six points the rest of the way. That included a 3-footer at the 1:38 mark that served as the dagger for OKC (45-14).
Here are three takeaways from the win:
Order new book on Thunder's run to NBA title
More: 10 OKC Thunder predictions: SGA can pull off rare double trophy repeat
Alex Caruso was dialed in during his return
Even on a cold night in Toronto, the Thunder cranked up the AC.
Alex Caruso, that is.
The veteran guard dialed up the defensive pressure midway through the third quarter, swiping the ball from Immanuel Quickley and launching a fastbreak. He then zipped a pass to Lu Dort, who drilled a 3-pointer.
Caruso didn't seem hindered at all from the left ankle sprain that sidelined him for OKC's win over Cleveland on Sunday and had him listed as questionable Tuesday. He pestered opponents on the perimeter, provided some extra playmaking and delivered a scoring punch off the bench.
Caruso ended the night with 16 points, four assists and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench.
More: OKC Thunder provides injury update on SGA, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell
Montreal native Lu Dort made himself at home
After finishing their pregame workout on the floor, most visiting players jog directly into the tunnel.
But in actuality, Dort was home. The Montreal native was back in Canada, and he stopped on his way to the tunnel to sign autographs for a crowd of local fans.
“It’s always good to be back here," Dort said with a smile. "Obviously, I grew up in Montreal. But this arena, this was the team we always loved when I was young. It’s good to be here, playing in front of my family and friends.”
Dort then made plenty of his signature plays once the ball tipped off.
He made life difficult for All-Star forward Brandon Ingram, who was held to just 15 points on 6-for-14 shooting from the field (2 for 4 from deep). And he also provided some much-needed floor spacing on offense with his sky-scraping shots.
Dort finished with 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in 34 minutes.
More: Chet Holmgren's path to NBA All-Star Game began with bold claim and channeled ambition
Toronto clawed its way back into the game
Raptors are never extinct in Scotiabank Arena.
Not even when Toronto trailed OKC by as many as 25 points. The Raptors still clawed their way back into the game, and Shead tied the score at 101-101 with 4:06 remaining by sinking a 3-pointer.
But OKC did just enough to win despite going 8 for 25 from the field (32%) and 1 for 7 from deep (14.3%) during the fourth quarter. It has now won five of its last six games.
More: How did Lu Dort, Thunder players buy in to OKC system? Sacrifice is 'for the better'
Tip-ins
∎ Cason Wallace became the sixth player in OKC history to have 17 points, six rebounds and four assists at halftime, per Thunder PR. And he's the first to do so on 100% shooting from the field (7 for 7).
∎ OKC was without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain), Thomas Sorber (right ACL surgical recovery) and Jalen Williams (right hamstring strain).
∎ Toronto was without Chucky Hepburn (G League two-way), A.J. Lawson (G League two-way), Alijah Martin (G League two-way), Jonathan Mogbo (G League assignment) and Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain injury management).
Justin Martinez covers the Thunder and NBA for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Justin? He can be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter at @Justintohoops. Sign up for the Thunder Sports Minute newsletter to access more NBA coverage. Support Justin's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
Thunder at Pistons
TIPOFF: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit (ESPN)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Cason Wallace, OKC Thunder fend off Raptors' frenzied comeback attempt
Continue reading...
