Toronto Raptors 61 – Phoenix Suns 55: Half time Analysis
The Toronto Raptors trail the Phoenix Suns 61-55 at half time. The 25-year-old Toronto centre Andrea Bargnani leads all scorers with 16 points, while Guard-forward Jared Dudley tops the Suns with 10 points.
The match is of great importance for both teams as Phoenix look to post their 14th consecutive victory against the Raptors. However, Toronto will try their level best to bounce back from a 123-90 defeat to the Denver Nuggets on Monday night.
Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry was disappointed with his team’s performance in their narrow 139-137 triple overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night.
He said after that game, "We have resolved. We play hard, and we compete like crazy. We were playing a great basketball team, a team that is playing better than anybody in the league right now. They are 13-1 since the All-Star break. We had a chance to do
something special, and we didn't quite get it done, so obviously it hurts."
First Quarter Recap
Toronto and Phoenix started the game at a crisp pace as the match was tied at 6-6 in the second minute of the opening quarter. The Raptors then went on a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead in the ninth minute. A jump shot by Steve Nash and a breath-taking three-pointer
from guard Vince Carter cut the deficit to 13-11.
Toronto once again got their shooting touch back and extended their lead to 21-13. Two consecutive three-pointers by Carter reduced the lead to 23-19 with three minutes remaining in the quarter. However, the Raptors got it going offensively in the last two
minutes and took a 32-26 lead into the second.
Second Quarter Recap
Toronto opened the second quarter on a 4-0 spurt to extend their lead to 36-26. The Suns fought hard to make the score a respectable one and cut the deficit to make it a four-point game at 40-36. The 22-year-old guard Jerryd Bayless then put the Raptors
ahead by 43-36 with a mid-range jumper.
With just over two and a half minutes left on the clock, and trailing by seven points, the Suns in-bounded the ball and center-forward Marcin Gortat came off the bench with a dunk shot to make it 55-50. However, seconds later the Raptors got the ball back
and played some tenacious shots, taking a 61-55 advantage into the locker room.
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