DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points (14 in the third quarter), and the San Antonio Spurs rallied from 18 points down in the third quarter to beat the defending champion Toronto Raptors 105-104.
The Spurs trailed 74-56 with 4:16 left in the third quarter. They were still down 74-58 with 4:01 left in the third quarter, with a 3% chance to win, and outscored the Raptors 47-30 the rest of the way.
Kyle Lowry’s 28-foot pull-up 3-pointer made it 105-104 with 5.6 seconds left, and LaMarcus Aldridge missed 2 free throws with the Spurs up 1 and 4 seconds left. The Raptors had the ball down 1, but Pascal Siakam missed a 34-foot pull-up 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have put them ahead.
During clutch time, the Spurs outscored the Raptors 11-9. DeRozan (No. 2 in clutch wins added, 2019-20) scored 4 of the Spurs’ 11 on 1 for 2 shooting and 2 for 2 at the line.
For the Raptors, Serge Ibaka had 21 points (12 in the paint) and 14 rebounds, and Norman Powell added 20 points. Lowry had 16 points and a season-high 15 assists but shot 5 for 15.
The Raptors forced 11 turnovers, about 5 fewer than usual for this many possessions. The Spurs outscored the Raptors 48-24 off the bench. The Raptors’ starters outscored the Spurs 66-54 in 24 minutes together.