A lead that swelled to 16 points in the first half spoke to the Toronto Raptors’ ability to play with force against a highly formidable team in the Houston Rockets.
However, once again, the Raptors wound up on the losing end of the final score — 114-110 on Sunday evening at Scotiabank Arena — because they aren’t equipped to sustain any high level of play.
It did make for a competitive and entertaining evening, though arguably the players the SBA fans came to see on this night — Scottie Barnes, along with Rockets guard and former Raptor Fred Van Vleet — combined for just eight points on 3-for-25 shooting.
For the Raptors, rookie Ja’Kobe Walter was unstoppable, producing a game-high 27 points until he fouled out.
Mississauga’s Dillon Brooks also had 27 to lead Houston.
Barnes inexplicably was in settle-mode in launching three-point shots that had no chance of dropping. He was 0-for-8 from beyond the arc and finished with six points.
Against a solid defensive side, the Raps poured in 35 points in the opening quarter, one of their finest periods of the season, which came in the wake of a fourth-quarter abomination against the visiting Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
When the Rockets became turnover-prone, the Raptors pounced on every miscue. But when the Rockets protected the basketball and started to play their trademark defence, the game turned competitive.
once again, the Raptors found themselves in a one-possession game, despite all of their warts. But down three in the final half-minute, Kelly Olynyk turned the ball over and that was it.
For the Raptors, it was their seventh straight setback.
Unfortunately, additional losses are certain to follow unless Barnes can find his offensive form. Two games since his return from an ankle injury and the Raptors’ franchise player has struggled.
VanVleet was also conspicuous by his offensive silence, going-1-for-10, his lone basket a late lay-up. However, the Rockets didn’t need their floor general to emerge as a scorer.
Turnovers, ultimately, did in the Raptors, which isn’t new given their season’s body of work.
No one can expect Walter to go off as he did Sunday with his career-high effort, but then again, no one expected Barnes to be this bad.
Next up for the 7-22 Raptors is a Monday tip against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.