Each starter provided something special in 3OT marathon vs Heat

What a three hour classic. It's not very often that the NBA competes with the length of a MLB game.

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What a three hour classic. It’s not very often that the NBA competes with the length of a MLB game. The crazy thing is these two teams will duke it out again in two days!

First off, have to mention Kyle Lowry missed his seventh straight game due to a personal matter. Nothing is known despite random speculation. Just hoping everything is good with Lowry.

The Raptors played in their first triple overtime game since a loss to the Jazz in 2012. It was the first time they won one of these hell in a cell matches since 1998, ironically against the other Florida team in Orlando. Every starter had a massive contribution, as you would probably hope because it’s the first time five players clocked 50-plus minutes in the shot clock era. I’m going to do my best to list them all.

1. Headband Gary

Maybe it’s because of my hours of playing 2k amongst the years, but I quickly notice accessory changes. I hope Gary Trent Jr. never goes away from the headband look (last four games) because its working for him. He put up a season-high 33 points after dropping 32 in the previous two games. Trent has also been top five in steals per game all season, and this game was no different. Put the two together and you have some rare Raptors history.

Gary had 16 first half points, and continued his torrid stretch during the third which included one of my favourite fast breaks of the entire season. The quick look from Fred VanVleet to Trent in the corner after getting the pass back from Scottie Barnes was textbook.

Let’s throw in the midrange game too. It’s always fun to see Gary get crafty and find his spots when he’s got it going.

The Raptors enjoyed a double digit lead for most of the third quarter but that quickly evaporated in the fourth when Trent and VanVleet were out of the game. With Dalano Banton and Precious Achiuwa on the court instead, Erik Spolestra smartly switched to the zone that he’s used to stifle the Raptors in the past. Samson wrote a great piece last week on how Portland exposed Toronto’s struggles using the zone. Ensuing possessions ended with OG Anunoby forced to take a tough three, and Banton getting called for an offensive foul setting a screen. Miami tied the game, but Trent killed the zone for good when he got a look for one of his five threes. Nobody on the bench is a reliable shooter, so that was the last time any of them saw action.

2. Pascal’s best defensive game…ever?

Siakam was a monster on defence in every facet, finishing with four steals and blocks apiece. I’m not doing him justice by just showing one example however my favourite sequence from him in this game came after this what the hell shot from seasoned Raptor killer Jimmy Butler.

Butler finished with a game-high 37 points and his second triple-double against the Raptors this season in two games. So now we’re tied at 94. What illustrates Siakam’s versatility more than finding OG on a sweet bounce for a dunk in transition, then this defensive masterpiece seconds later on the other end? Against Jimmy of all people.

A minute later, Siakam drove by the outstretched arm of Bam Adebayo, giving the Raptors a temporary one point lead.

“I watch him in practice, I watch him in shootarounds, I watch him in the games. He’s been at an All-NBA level for a while now and we’re going to need him to continue to do that. He carries a huge load for our franchise,” Fred said postgame.

3. Scottie saves the Raptors

Despite all of this, the Raptors were scrambling down 100-98 in the final seconds. Anunoby missed the potential go-ahead three, but both P.J. Tucker and Tyler Herro failed to box out Barnes who split between them and got fouled on the tip-in attempt. Barnes finished 3 offensive boards, in line with his average that leads all rookies by far. 

Pressure free throws up next for the rookie, shooting 71.7 percent for the season. His Mom was in the stands too. Neither one even touched the rim, all buckets.

4. Anunoby also saves the Raptors…twice

Don’t overlook the hounding defence OG played on Jimmy in crucial moments. After Scottie tied the game at 100, Anunoby didn’t allow Butler to get a shot off to end regulation. Tied at 105 in the first overtime in basically the same situation, OG took Jimmy’s cookies. Butler made a perfectly contested shot over Anunoby in double overtime, but that’s why he gets paid the big bucks. OG responded with an offensive rebound and turnaround jumper in the paint to keep the Raptors in striking range. Huge moments.

I’m gonna go on a tangent now and skip to where Spolestra took the game away from Gabe Vincent by calling a timeout in the dying seconds which kept the game tied. It’s eerily similar to DeRozan’s moment in Charlotte during the 2015-2016 season. Both videos are below.

5. Freddy All-Star 3OT special

Only had one starter left to highlight, we all know who.

$15,000 is a lot of money, but nobody would have blamed Fred for doing the Sam Cassell dance again. VanVleet started the game 2-for-11 from three, before making a go-ahead three in double overtime. We’ve seen Fred shoot poorly, just to have ice in his veins when it matters numerous times this season. The daggers he made with everybody dying for this game to end (fans included) got Matt Devlin goofy.

Let’s use Rudy Gay’s playbook and throw out Fred’s stat sheet. It’s all about those clutch threes.

That being said, Herro still had three different chances to put Miami back in front. One was an ill advised pullup three, but one I’ve seen him make when he’s feeling it. After that, Herro got two GREAT looks created by shaking Barnes off pump fakes. He just missed them. Toronto outscored Miami 24-20 in 15 minutes of overtime play because everybody’s legs were shot.

Sidenotes: A Nick Nurse special

Nurse was all of us at the end as Pascal iced it with free throws.

 

Let’s do a minutes count! Butler was the only Heat player above 50, with 52.

He still had energy for humour though. This is a joke, he did confirm after.

From a franchise history perspective, these minutes still pale in comparison to Vince Carter playing every all 63 minutes of a triple overtime loss to the Chris Webber led Sacramento Kings in 2001. DeRozan is the only other Raptor to log at least 60, done in the aforementioned 2012 Jazz game. Here’s your updated list.

What’s Next?

HOPEFULLY not a 8am practice. Atlanta wraps up the three game road trip on Monday. Hosting Miami on Tuesday. Sheesh.

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 29: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors blocks the shot during the game against the Miami Heat on January 29, 2022 at FTX Arena in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

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