Sports

The Toronto Raptors 119-118 win vs. Nets, push win streak to 14

Published

5 years ago

February 9, 2020

It’s unfortunate Toronto’s Kyle Lowry wasn’t able to participate in Saturday night’s game against the Nets. After injuring his neck last night in Indiana, it was necessary for him to rest tonight; but Brooklyn’s backcourt of Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert provide something of a mirror image for Lowry and partner Fred VanVleet to compete against. As it was, the three who did play each had themselves a game. The math on this (two greater than one) suggests the Nets should have won. But they didn’t thanks once again to the Raptors’ broader attack — and a defensive identity that can withstand multitudes.

When the final buzzer sounded, it was the Raptors up 119-118, giving them their 14th straight victory, far and away a franchise-record now. VanVleet called it a night with 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting, with six assists and a pair of rebounds. He did what he could to help slow Dinwiddie (21 and 11) and Caris LeVert (an eye-popping 37 on 12-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-7 from deep), but as mentioned, Fred didn’t have to do it alone.

To begin with, it was Terence Davis who got the start for the Raptors, in lieu of the injured Lowry, and he came ready to play. Davis opened his night with a 4-point play on the way to 20 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. He’s not the defender or game-controller Lowry is, but Davis can change games out of nowhere, too — a well-timed corner 3, a put-back jam, a fearless finish down the lane. It was Davis, along with VanVleet, who set the tone early for Toronto, particularly as Pascal Siakam eased into the game. To that point, it was an out-and-out guard duel, with defense largely an afterthought.

Two things defined the second quarter, though, as set up by the first. We knew eventually Siakam and Serge Ibaka would get going (and they did, scoring 8 and 6 points in the frame, respectively); but before that could happen, we saw the return of Toronto’s all-bench lineups. Coach Nick Nurse trotted out a group of Patrick McCaw, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Chris Boucher, the long-missed Matt Thomas, and even Oshae Brissett (who’d tweaked his ankle only early this week in the G League) to finish the first and kept rolling with them in the second. What should have spelled doom for the Raptors, as the Nets’ zone defense settled in, instead turned the game around.

The Raptors began the second by going on an 11-0 run thanks to some rock solid defense and enough shot-making to blow the game open for a time. The Nets would go scoreless for the frame’s first 4.5 minutes. Along the way, Thomas scored 11 of his 15 points off the bench, going 3-of-4 from three overall, while also grabbing six (!) boards and three (!!!) steals. Thanks to the continued improvement of Ibaka as a passer, Thomas also got to show he can do some other things on the offense end as well. Namely, this:

The third quarter saw the Raptors and Nets play to a draw (34 points apiece). For most of it, Toronto was content to just keep Brooklyn at arm’s length. They’d threaten and then Davis (who scored 11 in the frame) would make something happen, or Siakam would put in another easy bucket, or VanVleet would steady the ship for a few possessions. The Raptors extended their lead to as much as 18 points in the third behind the confidence of their starters (only OG Anunoby failed to put up double digits in scoring), and the waxing-and-waning of the Nets’ three-point shooting. Toronto cracked 100 points in the third and it felt like they’d built up enough of a cushion to ease their way into another victory.

Dinwiddie and LeVert had other ideas though. Behind their play — and, let’s admit it, the tired legs of the depleted Raptors off a back-to-back — the Nets managed to come all the back to tie it late. With just 35 seconds left in the fourth, LeVert (who else?) hit a jumper to knot the score at 118. The Raptors had once again been forced to lean on an all-bench combination of players for half the frame, and now looked back to VanVleet and Siakam to make something happen in the clutch. The former was golden in the fourth, pacing the Raptors with ten points, including a clutch three-point play and long fadeaway; the latter, however, struggled down the stretch, going just 1-for-5 from the field for three of his 20 points. Still, it was that pair working together who’d get the Raptors back in front.

As the seconds ticked off the clock, a couple of pick-and-roll attempts eventually got Siakam going downhill at the rim where he was fouled. The Nets challenged the call, and may have even had a case, but Siakam went to the line anyway. He missed the first — eliciting a squeal of surprise from the crowd — before draining the second. By this point the shotclock had been turned off, giving the Nets their final chance at the win. Naturally, LeVert got the ball in his hands. With OG draped all over him, he could only put up an air-ball. Astoundingly, there was enough time for Joe Harris to get a put-back attempt up, but that missed too.

There’s that old saying that it’s better to be lucky than good. As it turns out, with this win streak now up to 14 for Toronto, the Raptors may actually be both. It’s not a bad place to be — provided they can get some injury luck to go along with all the winning. Lowry deserves another chance at the Nets. Hmm, maybe in April?

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

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AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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