The Toronto Raptors fell short in Dallas going down 102-98 at American Airlines Arena to the Mavericks.
The Mavericks got their tenth win in eleven games, led by Luka Doncic who had 41 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists. Pascal Siakam led the Raptors with 20 points and eight rebounds, while OG Anunoby had 19 points and eight boards.
The Raptors remain with just one win so far, four games into their five-game road swing.
Here are some more thoughts at the buzzer...
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Raptors depth
Coach Nick Nurse had to use a seven-man rotation for the second consecutive game and the Raps just looked plain exhausted by the end of this one.
Three Raptors played at least 41 of the 48 minutes and six played at least 30 minutes.
Fred VanVleet leads the league in minutes played per game, Pascal Siakam sits seventh, OG Anunoby 10th, and Scottie Barnes 12th. They are tired, fam.
Post-game Nurse was asked if playing with such a shortened roster was sustainable and he said: “I don’t know: I think we’re playing great.”
The Raptors have been able to hang with teams for stretches during this road trip, but just don't have the personnel to get over the line. Toronto took the lead in the dying minutes thanks to a rare VanVleet made three, but just couldn't get over the line in the end.
Most Consecutive Games Played - 40 Mins Plus
— Chris Black (@DownToBlack) January 20, 2022
NBA This Season
Fred VanVleet (TOR) 5*
Pascal Siakam (TOR) 4*
Miles Bridges (CHO) 4
Saddiq Bey (DET) 4
*active streak
Luka Doncic dominates
Doncic had a season-high 41 points and added 14 rebounds and seven assists. The Raps tried to defend him every which way but they had zero answer for the Slovenian. Doncic had 22 of his 41 points before the half-time break.
Oh, and he had this incredible assist, too.
RT if that pass was #NBAAllStar material 🤯@luka7doncic with LUKAVISION. pic.twitter.com/ATtPIBPsCG
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) January 20, 2022
Rare off night from three for FVV
Through his first 38 games, Fred VanVleet connected on 40.7 percent of his 3-point field goals, but against the Mavs, VanVleet was ice cold. Typically if the three-ball isn't falling the mid-range and close-range shots will, but VanVleet couldn't buy a bucket - he finished 3-of-15 from long range, and 4-of-20 overall.
His streak of 12 consecutive games with at least three made 3's was extended by one, at least. Maybe the extra minutes over this road trip have gotten to him, but, he, just like his teammates, looked gassed.
VanVleet did find other ways to contribute, he had 12 assists on the night.
DEEEEEEEP #FredVanVleet | #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/blUHa2Gcnd
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 20, 2022
Pascal Siakam loses his triple-double
Credit to Pascal, he played his behind off despite being tired as well.
He had the stamina to drag this team to within victory almost singlehandedly. He had 20 and eight and along with VanVleet was the only Raptor to get more than three free-throw attempts.
This was despite the NBA taking away two of his rebounds from last Saturday's victory over the Milwaukee Bucks meaning he ended the game with 30 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, not 10, and therefore lost his second career triple-double.
OG Anunoby = Ol' reliable
Anunoby has been playing well during this road trip. He had 18 and eight on 50 percent shooting from the field, but fatigue took its toll on him as well. He only had six points in the second half.
That STAR power#OGAnunoby | #NBAAllStar
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) January 20, 2022
⭐️ 1 RT = 1 VOTE ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/ZUrkR6KJGG
Over the past five games, however, Anunoby is averaging 19.6 points and 4.6 rebounds.
What's next?
The Raptors were playing the second-last game of their five-game road trip.
They have a game against the Wizards on Friday, Jan. 21 (8:00 p.m. ET) before returning to the confines of Scotiabank Arena on Sunday.
See you then!
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