Two Games for Toronto: 2022 NBA Summer League Recap
Plenty of big stories keep coming out of Las Vegas as we all get more looks at what a possible NBA future could look like as the NBA Summer League rolls on. The Toronto Raptors had seen success in their first fixture in Vegas and next faced two more in as many days.
The headlines where the Summer League scoring record had been matched and NBA veteran Richard Jefferson turned referee when the Raptors met up with the Chicago Bulls at the Thomas and Mack Centre. Dalano Banton put Toronto's first nine points on the board, Chicago responded with eleven unanswered and had eight more without reply, leading by seven to start the second quarter.
Jeff Dowtin closed the gap before the Bulls overwhelmed the Raptors from all spots on the floor and regain their double-digit advantage. Carlik Jones had taken over offence for Chicago, who kept interrupting Toronto's rhythm, converting so many looks from close range and drawing fouls then converting free throws to reach a 26-point lead.
The Raptors then had ten minutes to turn it around, with Banton trying to initiate something at the start of the fourth, where the Bulls went four minutes without scoring a point. Even so it was too much for Toronto to come back from and ended up only reducing their arrears to 93-83. Banton finished with a game-high 18, with 16 from Dowtin in the loss, while Carlik Jones had 17, the most of the six Chi players to finish in double digits in their ten-point win.
They had a chance to avenge this loss the next day in the same arena against the Utah Jazz. Toronto had the first seven points of the game before Xavier Sneed closed the gap to one, in response Dowtin and Banton combined to increase the Raptor lead to ten.
With Toronto maintaining their double-digit advantage with plenty of open looks in the paint, Utah began the second half with a 10-2 run but led by DJ Wilson Toronto were able to retain their double-digit lead. Bruno Caboclo began a ten-point unbroken steak for the Jazz, who started to cut down the Raptors' lead in the final quarter.
Dowtin was on hand to interrupt Utah's scoring rhythm late on and put up four points in the final minutes - the last of his 19 on the game - ensure the Raptors' second Summer League victory. In addition Wilson had 22 points and 9 total rebounds in the 80-74 win over the Jazz.
That win puts Toronto high in the Summer League standings and can improve their record in their next game against the Miami Heat on Friday. Check here for more of what happens in Vegas regarding the Toronto Raptors.
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