Below is a running diary of the Lakers’ matchup against the Toronto Raptors, with comments drawn from Mike Trudell’s @LakersReporter Twitter account, to ensure you’re covered from start to finish.
First Quarter
After giving up the opening 3 of the game, LAL scored 9 straight, and lead 11-8 after Kyle Lowry got on the board w/a 3.
Kobe’s been very effective in the first 5 minutes, leading LAL to a 15-8 lead. 2 for 2 FG’s, 4 points, 3 assists, 4 boards and a steal.
MWP and Randle replace Kobe and Nance, Jr. at the 3:52, after Toronto went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-15 lead.
In this start for the injured Carroll, Ross already has 13 points, hitting 4 of 8 FG’s and 3 of 5 3’s, his 2nd-highest scoring game already.
Second Quarter
More work from Randle, who’s up to 10 points with 6 boards in his 9 minutes after putting back his own miss plus the foul. TOR up 34-30.
There’s the athleticism of Larry Nance, Jr., flying in for a follow-dunk of Clarkson’s transition miss. 6-0 LAL run trims the lead to 42-38.
Having just mentioned LAL getting killed by Lowry 3’s (7 in the first matchup) … they lost him again out of a time out, and he has 5 3’s.
Toronto outscored LAL by 7 in the 2nd Q, resulting in a 52-42 halftime lead. Kobe had 6 points (3 of 6 FG’s), 6 boards, 3 dimes.
Floor spacing – Hibbert to Kobe #GoLakers 1st quarter on @TWCSportsNet | @TWCDeportes https://t.co/OeszrZN4LG
Third Quarter
LAL and Toronto are tied for last in assists (18.1), but the Raptors have 13 to LAL’s 6 tonight. Lots of solo scoring for LAL still.
LAL use a 7-0 run to cut Toronto’s lead to 3 at 54-51, capped by a Clarkson layup through traffic, and featuring a Williams’ 3 and 2 FT’s.
Russell would have had the final 6 points of the 3rd for LAL, but his 4 straight still allowed a 71-all tie after 3. 29-19 LAL 3rd Q edge.
METTA WORLD THREE #GoLakers @TWCSportsNet | @TWCDeportes pic.twitter.com/XH3vxrK7Ex
Fourth Quarter
Another double-double for Julius Randle, who’s up to 15 points and 11 boards in his 17 minutes, LAL down 76-75.
Kobe followed that 2 by draining a corner 3, and he’s now 7 for 13 from the field for 17 points with 8 boards and 3 dimes. LAL down 85-83.
Kobe missed 2 straight tough shots, and Toronto got 2 Lowry FT’s, then a Biyombo alley-oop dunk from Lowry to go up 94-85.
Final: Raptors 102, Lakers 93. Kobe had 21 in his first 50% FG night of the year, Williams had 15, Randle 15-11 off the bench in 21 minutes.
