Raptors vs. Rockets: Leaving no room for error against Houston

The Toronto Raptors may not have come away with the victory in their Summer League opener against the Boston Celtics, but that doesn’t mean the team’s late-moment fumble was a total calamity either. There were enough tantalizing performances to keep fans satiated until the next contest, and fortunately, that’s not too long a wait.

Here are four storylines to consider ahead of the Raptors’ matchup against the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Tip-off is slated for 9:30 p.m. EST on NBA TV Canada and Prime Video.

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Toronto needs sharper execution down the stretch to close out games

Allen Graves was a revelation for the Raptors, but it wasn’t enough to pull out a win. The 19th overall pick dropped 22 points on 9-16 shooting from the field, with 13 boards and two blocks in a losing effort. The Celtics might have allowed a bit of cushion room for mistakes, but the Raptors can not afford to commit them against the Rockets.

The Raptors’ mistakes kept the Celtics in the game

The third quarter saw the Raptors’ lead balloon to double digits, but the Celtics capitalized on defensive lapses to put them back in the game. Curtis Jones was doubled at the top of the key, which freed up John Tonje in the wing for a non-contested triple, trimming the Raptors’ lead to 8, 43-51. In a subsequent pick-and-roll action, Hugo Gonzales collapses the defence, leaving Tonje for another three-pointer in the wing, making it a one-possession contest, 48-51.

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As much as Graves has been credited for his standout performance on offence, his costly choices on defence gave Boston a lifeline to force overtime. Graves knocks down a transition triple to make it a two-possession game down the stretch, 75-71. In a press action for Toronto, Graves reached for a steal, forcing his teammates to scramble on coverage, which left Tonje open for a three-pointer. On the last possession before extra time, Milos Uzan was doubled off the dribble, finding Chris Cenac Jr. on the corner for the game-tying triple, to which Graves gave a late contest.

Defensive maturity takes time to develop. Besides, Graves’ production is the reason we…

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Publish date : 2026-07-11 19:08:00

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