Suns' skid continues with loss at Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Sun 23rd February, 20:57 2025

Feb 23, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors forward RJ Barrett (9) shoots the ball as Phoenix Suns center Mason Plumlee (22) defends in the first half at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Immanuel Quickley, Chris Boucher and RJ Barrett each scored 23 points, and the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Phoenix Suns 127-109 on Sunday night.

As a reserve, Boucher scored 14 of his points in the second quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds for the game.

Scottie Barnes added 20 points and nine rebounds and Orlando Robinson scored 10 points for the Raptors, who had lost their previous two games.

Devin Booker scored 31 points for the Suns, who have lost five of six. Bradley Beal added 30 points, Kevin Durant scored 15 and Nick Richards scored 10.

Durant did not touch the ball in the Suns' first five possessions of the game with Barnes guarding him closely. He scored his first points with a jumper with 8:09 left and went 2-for-2 with a 12-footer. Toronto led 29-25 after one quarter.

The Suns had hoped to establish consistent movement on offense, but they often became stuck and fell behind by 10 points when Barnes hit a 3-pointer with 8:55 left in the second quarter.

Durant and Richards helped a Phoenix rally that cut the lead to three with 4:44 left. Toronto responded with 3-pointers by Boucher and Quickley and expanded the margin to 16 when Barnes made two free throws with five seconds remaining. Toronto led 67-52 at halftime.

Toronto scored the first four points of the third quarter to lead by 19. Phoenix came back with a 9-0 run capped by Booker's driving layup with 8:28 left. Toronto's lead shrunk to three after Beal drained a jumper with 5:12 remaining, and the Raptors lead was 88-82 after three quarters.

Boucher continued to provide a spark for Toronto, and his three-point play on a determined effort with 7:39 to play in the fourth quarter had the lead at 12.

Booker's steal set up Grayson Allen for a 3-pointer that trimmed the gap to two with 5:02 to play. But Boucher and Quickley answered with 3-pointers.

The lead reached 17 on Barrett's four-point play with 1:45 to play.

Toronto's Jakob Poeltl (hip) and Phoenix's Monte Morris (back) did not play.

--Field Level Media

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