Canada Sport News

Raptors suffer first Summer League defeat as comeback attempt falls short against Jazz
  • Game coverage - recap
    •

    Raptors suffer first Summer League defeat as comeback attempt falls short against Jazz

    Playing without Gradey Dick and Jonathan Mogbo, the Toronto Raptors weren’t able to keep their perfect Summer League record alive.

    The Utah Jazz broke out to a big lead in the second quarter and were able to hold off the Raptors’ late comeback effort to take an 86-76 win on Wednesday night.

    Toronto turned to a full-court press in the final minutes of the fourth quarter that helped them chip into Utah’s lead — cutting their deficit as low as six — but Utah’s lead was a little too big to overcome.

    Javon Freeman-Liberty led the way for Toronto, pouring in 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor and 3-of-6 shooting from deep. He also mixed in two rebounds and three assists in just less than 24 minutes.

    No other Raptors scored in the double digits, but undrafted free agent signing Branden Carlson made an impact on both ends of the floor, recording seven points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.

    Jamal Shead finished with seven points, four rebounds, two assists and four steals, helping the Raptors’ comeback effort with his work on the defensive end.

    The Jazz got big games from 2023 first-round pick Taylor Hendricks and 2024 second-round Kyle Filipowski to improve to 2-1 in Las Vegas.

    Hendricks finished with a near double-double, scoring 23 points and pulling down nine rebounds. He shot a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the field and knocked down three three-pointers.

    Filipowski has 20 points, seven boards and three steals of his own, knocking down a pair of triples on 56.2 per cent shooting from the field.

    Dick (sprained ankle) and Mogbo (back) were both inactive due to injuries suffered during Toronto’s last Summer League on Sunday.

    The Raptors will be back in action on Friday when they take on the Miami Heat, whose win earlier Wednesday improved them to 3-0 in the Summer League.

    More from Sportsnet
    Raptors Notebook: Where Toronto stands after off-season moves


    Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic looking to reset with clean slate in 2024-25

    The Toronto Raptors suffered their first defeat of the NBA Summer League as they fell short in a comeback attempt against the Utah Jazz. The Raptors, who had won their first two games in convincing fashion, found themselves trailing early in the game and struggled to find their rhythm on both ends of the court.

    Despite a slow start, the Raptors showed resilience and fought back in the second half. Led by standout performances from rookie Scottie Barnes and second-year guard Malachi Flynn, the Raptors were able to cut into the Jazz’s lead and make it a competitive game down the stretch.

    However, the Jazz’s strong shooting and defensive effort proved to be too much for the Raptors to overcome. The Jazz were able to maintain their lead and hold off the Raptors’ comeback attempt, ultimately securing the victory.

    While the loss is disappointing for the Raptors, there were still some positives to take away from the game. Barnes continued to impress with his versatility and energy on both ends of the court, while Flynn showcased his scoring ability and playmaking skills.

    Overall, the Raptors will look to bounce back from this defeat and continue to build chemistry and cohesion as they prepare for the upcoming NBA season. The Summer League is a valuable opportunity for young players to gain experience and develop their skills, and the Raptors will be looking to make the most of this opportunity as they look to improve and compete at a high level in the future.