![Scottie Barnes Raptors NBA](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/11/AP23309844811285-620x413.jpg)
Scottie Barnes (4) of the Toronto Raptors calls a timeout with less than one second remaining in the fourth period of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
SAN ANTONIO β The Toronto Raptors overcame a significant deficit and an even bigger presence in San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama to win on the road for the first time this season.
Scottie Barnes scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and had 11 rebounds as Toronto overcame a 22-point deficit to force overtime and beat San Antonio 123-116 on Sunday.
Dennis Schroder and OG Anunoby each had 24 points as the Raptors snapped the Spurs’ two-game winning streak.
NEW career-high in 3s for OG π pic.twitter.com/cyjhI374gf
β Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 5, 2023
βWe didn’t make any different plays in the second half,β Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. βIt was just our intentions and how aggressively we did it in the second half that gave us a chance.β
Keldon Johnson had 26 points, Zach Collins added 21 points and 11 rebounds and Victor Wembanyama had 20 points for the Spurs.
San Antonio scored back-to-back thrilling wins in Phoenix.
LET’S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO https://t.co/wZ3yizVdfp pic.twitter.com/U59Zng8IAo
β Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 5, 2023
The Spurs overcame a 20-point deficit in the first win on Oct. 31 and didn’t take the lead until the final basket with 1.2 seconds left. San Antonio defeated Phoenix on Thursday after nearly blowing a 27-point lead.
The experience of playing with and against big leads did not help on Sunday.
βWe didn’t have much in terms of scoring,β San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. βWe had a little more trouble with their height, their aggressiveness and their ability to get into passing lanes. I think it slowed us down to the point where our offense wasn’t going as smoothly. So for these two reasons they were able to come back. They did a good job.β
![Victor Wembanyama Spurs NBA](https://sports.inquirer.net/files/2023/11/AP23309787612248-620x391.jpg)
San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama walks onto the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
The afternoon start allowed the NBA to broadcast the game live in prime time in 132 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Wembanyama went 7 for 16 from the field and had five blocked shots.
βPop often says it’s important to play the whole 48 minutes and even relaxing for a few seconds is too much,β Wembanyama said.
After delivering a shoulder to clear space under the edge, Anunoby was visibly stunned after Wembanyama closed quickly to block his floater before the ball had even left his hand.
‘It’s too tall. It’s way too long,β Anunoby said, laughing as he recalled the piece.
Toronto defeated San Antonio 23-10 to open the final quarter after entering the period trailing by 15. Barnes had back-to-back 3-pointers and a dunk to cut the score to 96-91 with seven minutes left.
βHe doesn’t shy away from those moments,β Rajakovic said. ‘He longs for those moments. I’m blessed to have a player like Scottie who can put him in those situations. He did it all in the second half.”
Barnes tied the score at 108 with another three-pointer. After a pair of Johnson free throws, Anunoby grabbed a loose ball and threw in a floater to tie the score at 110 with 1.2 seconds left.
The Spurs were without starting guard Devin Vassell, who suffered a strained groin in the first half of Thursday’s game in Phoenix. Vassell is expected to return Monday in Indiana or Wednesday in New York.
Jakob Poeltl had 16 points and 10 rebounds in his return to San Antonio after being traded back to Toronto on February 9. The Spurs initially acquired Poeltl in a trade that sent Kawhi Leonard to the Raptors in July 2018.
NEXT ONE
Raptors: Wednesday night at Dallas.
Spurs: Monday night at Indiana.