In the ups and downs of this early season phase, Dennis Schröder’s Toronto Raptors won against San Antonio and its super talent. For Cleveland, an XXL misery ended against Golden State. The NBA on Monday morning
Overtime was necessary, five blocks by Victor Wembanyama had to be endured – but in the end the Toronto Raptors took the victory from San Antonio by 123:116 and celebrated their third win in the seventh game. So the rollercoaster ride of the only Canadian franchise in the NBA continues.
Dennis Schröder was once again one of the visitors’ top performers, contributing 24 points, six assists and three rebounds, although his three-point percentage (1/8) showed room for improvement. Scottie Barnes put his stamp on the game with a whopping double-double (30, 11 rebounds – five threes), while Jakob Pöltl did his best under the baskets (16 points, ten rebounds) to pick off Wembanyama and his teammates.
The young Frenchman had his usual strong scenes, but he also missed a few shots (7/16 from the field) and finished with 20 points and nine rebounds. Bitter for the Spurs (3-3): The Texans squandered a 22-point lead and allowed a more aggressive Raptors to take their first away win of the season after the break.
“We’re too inconsistent, I think. Our path to success is always if we defend well and play fast. We didn’t do that in the first half,” Schröder told dpa, while Barnes spoke of a “terrible” game by his team before the break. Schröder did not fail to praise Wembanyama: “He obviously has the potential to become very good”, playing “very, very strongly in offense and defense.”
Doncic and LaMelo in the battle for the triple-double
The Dallas Mavericks meanwhile won 124:118 against the Charlotte Hornets (2-4) without Maximilian Kleber, who injured his toe, and now have five wins from six games. Luka Doncic narrowly missed out on a triple-double after a scoreless first quarter (23 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists), which his opponent LaMelo Ball managed at the other end (30/10/13) and added to the excitement with a brilliant fourth quarter (23 points).
After 16 defeats in a row, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors for the first time again (115:104) and inflicted the second defeat of the season on the Californians led by Steph Curry (28, seven threes). The Cavs (Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points) had last beaten the Dubs on Christmas 2016. “It’s an awesome feeling, I know there’s a rivalry there, so I realize what it means to the fans here,” Mitchell said after the clash between two former Finals opponents.
Grizzlies no longer winless
The Phoenix Suns improved to 3-4 with a 120-106 win in Detroit after a rocky start to the season. Kevin Durant stood out with 41 points. The Memphis Grizzlies (1-6) are now also no longer without a win: Desmond Bane (30) led his team to a 112:100 victory in Portland (3-4).
