NBA: Quickley and Raptors rally from 16 down to beat Clippers 125-118

The Raptors won 125-118 at the Clippers on Monday 2 November in the United States, in front of 16,044 fans at the Intuit Dome, wiping out a 16-point deficit. Toronto scored 47 points in the fourth quarter, against 27 for Los Angeles, and took the lead during a 10-0 run that moved the score from 109-103 to 109-113 with 1 min 42 left.

Both teams were playing their second game in two nights. For the Clippers, Bradley Beal, Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Brandon Ingram and Jordan Miller were listed as out. For the Raptors, Nate Bittle and Kawhi Leonard were also ruled out, with a left knee injury reportedly behind Leonard's absence. The lead changed hands only once all night: to Toronto, in the final quarter.

Clippers pull clear

Los Angeles controlled the first three quarters. A 9-0 run late in the first, from 24-18 to 33-18, let the Clippers close the period at 33-22. In the third quarter, a 7-0 run (from 69-61 to 76-61) stretched the gap, which reached 16 points at 78-62, with 6 min 25 left in the period. It was the Clippers' biggest lead of the night, with no equivalent for Toronto until the closing minutes: the Raptors' maximum lead was only 7 points, the final margin. Los Angeles went into the last twelve minutes 13 points ahead (91-78).

Toronto shifts gear

The Raptors then scored 47 points in a single quarter. The Clippers still led 105-96 with six minutes left, then Toronto closed the gap to 105-101. After 109-103, the 10-0 run swung the game. The Raptors finished shooting 52% (43 of 83), against 46% (42 of 91) for the Clippers.

Players of the match

Immanuel Quickley finished as Toronto's top scorer with 27 points in 38 minutes. He hit 10 of his 11 free throws and posted a plus-minus of +8. RJ Barrett added 26 points on 10 of 19 shooting and 2 blocks, with a plus-minus of +18 in 37 minutes, the highest on his team. Scottie Barnes ended the night with 22 points, 15 rebounds and 8 assists, but he turned the ball over 3 times and converted only 8 of his 15 free throws. Collin Murray-Boyles (18 points, 7 rebounds, +12 in 28 minutes) and Jamison Battle (12 points, including 4 three-pointers on 6 attempts) completed the picture.

For the Clippers, Kobe Sanders was the best performer with 26 points in 38 minutes, including 5 three-pointers on 11 attempts and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Isaiah Jackson made 9 of his 11 shots for 19 points and 8 rebounds in 26 minutes, but his team lost by 15 points with him on the floor. The disappointment was Darius Garland: 16 points on 5 of 14 shooting, 8 assists, but 7 turnovers and a plus-minus of -16 in 36 minutes.

Three takeaways

A 16-point comeback. Toronto led only at the end. The fourth quarter (47-27) weighed as heavily as the first three combined in the final margin of 7 points.

Free throws made the difference. The Raptors attempted 48 free throws and made 31, against 21 of 27 for the Clippers: a ten-point gap at the line, in a seven-point win. They lost the three-point shooting battle (8 of 29, against 13 of 35), but scored 35 two-point baskets, against 29 for Los Angeles. They also pulled down more rebounds (41 to 38).

Clippers sink further. Their record falls to 1-6, which leaves them 13th in the Western Conference. It would be their sixth straight defeat, their last win dating back to the season opener on 21 October against Sacramento. Toronto improves to 4-3 and sits 4th in the Eastern Conference.

The SNA view

The Clippers shot better from long range, but it was not enough to win. Conceding 47 points in twelve minutes, with a 13-point lead at the start, points to a defensive problem above all else. The Clippers' 15 turnovers, 7 of them by Garland, also cost them possessions with which to defend the lead. Toronto won because it turned its contact into free throws, not because of outside shooting.

What's next

The Clippers host the Miami Heat on Thursday 5 November at 4:30 Brazzaville time. The Raptors travel to face the Denver Nuggets the same day, at 3:00 Brazzaville time.