The Toronto Raptors may have been shorthanded due to injury against Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets, but their division rival was down to eight players for this contest. With names like James Harden out, the stage was set for Fred VanVleet to take over.
This game could not have started worse for the Raptors, as two-way players and rookies like Kessler Edwards and Day’Ron Sharpe were absolutely toying with Toronto. The Raptors had an unreal 44-point third quarter, but they once again slipped up in crunch time.
Toronto lost 131-129 in overtime, getting outscored by 11 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. While VanVleet had 31 points and nine assists in what looked like a solid night for the veteran point guard, he has some crucial misses late that ended up determining the winner of this game.
VanVleet missed three shots in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, including a 30-foot 3-pointer while up by three. That last misfire allowed Patty Mills to nail a game-tying triple that forced overtime.
In the extra period, VanVleet couldn’t connect on two key shots with defenders draped around him. His late three-pointer was not enough to help Toronto prevail.
I don’t need that now Fred VanVleet, I needed it five minutes ago.
— Libaan Osman (@libaanstar1) December 15, 2021
The Toronto Raptors saw Fred VanVleet disappoint late.
Toronto had plenty of performances to write home about. Scottie Barnes may have had his best game as a pro with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists. Pascal Siakam pumped in 25 points on 21 shots. Gary Trent Jr. was hitting clutch 3-pointers late.
Unfortunately, Toronto was undone by a Nets team that recorded 19 offensive rebounds and got solid offensive nights from contributors like Mills, Edwards, and Sharpe. All of that could’ve potentially been undone with better late-game execution, but VanVleet didn’t get the job done.
This looked like a re-run of their home loss against Oklahoma City. VanVleet is an All-Star and Toronto’s best player this year, making it unfortunate that he couldn’t connect on these shots.
‘Topes lose. 131-129 Nets. Fun game. Flat first half, too many offensive rebounds surrendered, poor late-game execution.
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) December 15, 2021
Barnes was sensational.
One of Toronto’s biggest issues last year was their performance in the clutch, as Siakam missed several game-winners. While VanVleet has taken on the role of the primary scorer in late-game scenarios, playing hero ball near the end of games is not the way to help the team win.
VanVleet has been a clutch player in the past, and he’s been Toronto’s unquestioned leader this season, but some of the moves he’s made in critical late-game situations have been puzzling, to say the least. With Toronto off until Sunday, this unit will get some much-needed reprieve.