Jazz stage big comeback to down Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Sat 23rd December, 22:24 2023

Dec 23, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) shoots the ball as Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) defends in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. credits: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson each scored 30 points and the visiting Utah Jazz came back to defeat the Toronto Raptors 126-119 Saturday night.

Collin Sexton added 16 points for the Jazz who trailed by as many as 17 points. Walker Kessler and John Collins scored 10 each for the Jazz, who are 2-1 on a five-game road trip.

Scottie Barnes had 32 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost three straight.

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby scored 19 points each for the Raptors. Gary Trent Jr. had 16 points and Dennis Schroder had 11 points.

Toronto took a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Utah scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter. The Jazz tied the game at 104 on Clarkson's layup with 6:44 to play. Utah took a 10-point lead on Clarkson's 3-pointer with 4:02 remaining. Barnes cut the margin to six on a hook shot with 1:55 left.

Barnes scored 17 points in the first quarter to push Toronto to a 34-31 lead.

The Raptors led by 16 after Anunoby made a dunk with 5:24 to play in the second quarter. Utah scored the next five points, but Schroder's 17-foot jumper with 2:12 left pushed the lead back up to 13.

Anunoby's steal led to a dunk by Barnes with 15 seconds left to give Toronto a 17-point lead. Sexton made one of two free throws to complete the first-half scoring with Toronto leading 71-55.

The Raptors shot 53.8 (28-for-52) percent from the field in the first half, led by 24 points from Barnes.

The Jazz shot 47.7 (21-for-44) in the first half with Markkanen scoring 16 points.

A dunk by Collins cut Toronto's lead to 11 with 9:50 to play in the third quarter. The Jazz then reduced the margin to 10 before Anunoby scored five straight points.

Sexton's jumper cut the lead to 11 with 3:10 remaining in the third. Utah moved to within nine points before Trent hit two 3-pointers that gave Toronto a 98-85 lead going into the fourth.

Utah was without Keyonte George (left foot inflammation) and Talen Horton-Tucker (left foot inflammation).

—Field Level Media

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