Title: Chris Boucher and Toronto Raptors Triumph Over Phoenix Suns
Author: Tim Wharnsby
Source: The Canadian Press
Date: February 23, 2025 8:48 pm
Read Time: 2 minutes
Chris Boucher, a Canadian basketball player, emerged from the bench to lead the Toronto Raptors to a thrilling 127-109 victory against the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Boucher contributed 23 points and 10 rebounds to the game.
The Toronto Raptors, currently standing at 18-39, saw their bench outperform the Suns with a 42-18 score, effectively ending their two-game losing streak at Scotiabank Arena.
Phoenix Suns’ guard, Devin Booker, emerged as the top scorer with 31 points, while Bradley Beal trailed closely with 30 points. Kevin Durant, on the other hand, contributed 15 points to the game. For the Raptors, Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett each added 23 points. Scottie Barnes also had a good game with 20 points and nine rebounds.
The Suns, standing at 27-30, made a valiant attempt to close the gap to two points with just over five minutes left in the game. However, Quickley and Barrett’s impressive three-point shooting in the final moments sealed the victory for the Raptors.
The Raptors had an impressive three-point shooting performance in the final quarter, with an 8-for-8 attempt record. This brought their game total to 20, just one shy of their season high. Barrett, in particular, made three consecutive three-pointers in the fourth quarter, leading Toronto into the final quarter with an 88-82 lead.
Boucher was a standout player, scoring 14 points and taking five rebounds in the second quarter alone.
In other news, Raptors’ head coach Darko Rajakovic revealed that injured center Jakob Poeltl is nearing his return after missing seven games due to a right hip ailment. The Suns also faced challenges with Durant receiving a technical foul for contesting a call, resulting in Quickley making the free throw as part of Toronto’s 8-3 run to finish the first half.
The game’s pivotal moment came when Boucher grabbed a rebound on his own missed shot and was subsequently fouled on his successful layup. He made the free throw, extending the Raptors’ lead to 105-93 with just over seven minutes remaining.
In the next games, the Suns are set to face the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Raptors will host the Boston Celtics.
The original report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 23, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
