The Toronto Raptors secured a narrow 107-104 victory against the Houston Rockets, extending their home winning streak against the Rockets to four games. Immanuel Quickley led the Raptors with 25 points, followed by RJ Barrett with 21 points. Jakob Poeltl contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Scottie Barnes added 13 points and 10 rebounds. This win marked the Raptors’ second consecutive victory after a challenging stretch of games. Despite Barnes’ 4 for 16 shooting performance, he came close to a triple-double with eight assists. Barrett also impressed with a season-high seven assists.Toronto built a significant 22-point lead, but Houston mounted a comeback, narrowing the gap to just one point in the final moments of the game. Dillon Brooks led Houston’s late surge with 11 of his 20 points scored in the fourth quarter. However, Barrett’s crucial free throws helped secure the win for Toronto. The Rockets had opportunities to tie the game, but Aaron Holiday and Jeff Green missed crucial shots in the final seconds.
Former Raptors guard Fred VanVleet missed the game due to injury, depriving him of a chance to play against his former team. Fans showed their appreciation for VanVleet with a standing ovation and a video tribute during the game. The Rockets were without key players, including VanVleet and Cam Whitmore, who left the game early due to a sprained ankle.The Raptors capitalized on turnovers in the first quarter, scoring 10 points off eight Houston turnovers. They ended the quarter with a commanding 34-20 lead. Despite a strong second-quarter performance from Whitmore, the Rockets fell behind and trailed 61-49 at halftime. Toronto maintained its lead throughout the game, entering the fourth quarter with an 88-71 advantage.Referee Courtney Kirkland left the game at halftime due to illness, but the game continued without further disruptions. Looking ahead, the Rockets will face the Atlanta Hawks, while the Raptors will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in their next matchups. Newly acquired Raptors players Ochai Agbaji and Kelly Olynyk were active but did not play in this game.
