Kofi Inkoom
The Toronto Raptors pulled off a remarkable comeback, led by Pascal Siakam, erasing a daunting 23-point deficit to secure an exciting 111-107 victory over the Washington Wizards.
This victory raised their season record to 5-5, echoing a pattern of inconsistency from the previous year.
Siakam emerged as the Raptors’ savior, contributing a season-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists.
Siakam really hit the game winner to seal the 23 point comeback 🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/aIG7W1Z8Bb
— MVP43🐐 (@StepBackPascal) November 14, 2023
He displayed his old form, relentlessly attacking the paint and exploiting mismatches, even though his three-point shots weren’t hitting the mark.
The Raptors’ defense had been a bright spot this season, ranking among the top in the league in several categories.
However, against the Wizards, it faltered early, with the absence of OG Anunoby proving costly as Kyle Kuzma shone with 34 points in the first half.
Toronto’s offensive struggles continued, exacerbated by missing key players, leading to a lack of floor spacing and an inability to find a rhythm.
Siakam’s heroics in the third quarter ignited the turnaround, and the Raptors clamped down defensively in the fourth, forcing the Wizards into a six-minute field goal drought.
Chris Boucher played a crucial role in this defensive resurgence, with two transition dunks helping Toronto even the score late in the game.
The Raptors’ season seems to be following a familiar path, characterized by inconsistency, and it remains a work in progress under their new head coach.
The next challenge for Toronto is a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in their ongoing homestand.