Gary Trent Jr. scored 42 points (24 on 8 3-pointers), and the Toronto Raptors went on an 11-2 run in the fourth quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 117-112.
The Suns went on a 23-6 run to lead 105-102 with 4:00 left in the fourth quarter. Khem Birch’s tip-in put the Raptors ahead for good with 2:05 left. They took a 113-107 lead with 1:33 left.
The Suns got within 113-112 on Devin Booker’s 3-pointer with 52 seconds to play. They had the ball down 1 with 21 seconds left, but Scottie Barnes stole the ball from Mikal Bridges. A basket would have put the Suns ahead. Trent followed with 2 free throws, and the Suns got no closer.
Trent’s 2 free throws with 8.1 seconds left made it 117-112 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Raptors outscored the Suns 15-11. Trent (No. 10 in clutch points, 2021-22) scored 9 of the Raptors’ 15 on 1 for 3 shooting and 6 for 6 at the line. Late in the fourth quarter, Barnes had 3 of his 5 steals, one of them leading to Birch’s tip-in that put the Raptors ahead 109-107, and the Raptors scored 6 points off them.
Pascal Siakam had 25 points (12 in the third quarter) and 10 assists, and Barnes added 15 points and 5 steals.
For the Suns, Cameron Payne scored 24 points, and Booker added 22 points and 7 assists.
The Suns got 5 offensive rebounds, about 4 fewer than usual for the shots they missed. The Suns were outscored 27-17 in 7 minutes with McGee, Booker, Craig, Holiday and Shamet on the floor together. Payne fouled out.