Powell’s 23 help Raptors hold off Thunder 130-121

OKLAHOMA CITY — Norman Powell scored 23 points, and the Toronto Raptors held off a furious rally and beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-121 on Wednesday night.

Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby each added 21 points for the Raptors, who shot a season-high 61.2% from the field.

Dennis Schroder scored 25 points, Danilo Gallinari scored 23 and Shai Gilgeous-Alexader added 21 for the Thunder, who cut a 30-point deficit to three before Toronto held on.

Toronto led 73-43 in the second quarter before the Thunder closed the first half on a 12-0 run. Gilgeous-Alexander hit a 3-pointer as time expired in the second quarter to cut Toronto’s lead to 73-55. Former Thunder player Serge Ibaka scored 13 points on 6-for-6 shooting before the break. The Raptors led 97-83 heading into the fourth, and had a 21-point lead with 6:39 to play.

Oklahoma City made a huge comeback try late. Gallinari threw down a monster dunk and was fouled with 2:39 to play. The free throw cut Toronto’s lead to three, but Toronto closed the game on an 8-2 run.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Coach Nick Nurse said G Fred Van Vleet should be ready to play this weekend. Van Vleet has missed four consecutive games with a right hamstring strain. … C Marc Gasol returned after missing 12 games with a left hamstring pull. He finished with 15 points in 32 minutes. … Had five players score in double figures in the first half. … G Kyle Lowry was called for a technical in the third quarter.

Thunder: C Nerlens Noel missed his sixth straight game with a left ankle sprain. … C Steven Adams left the game in the first half with a right knee contusion and did not return. … C Justin Patton scored 45 points in a G-League game on Tuesday. … C Mike Muscala scored a season-high 17 points.

UP NEXT

Raptors: Host the Washington Wizards on Friday.

Thunder: Host the Miami Heat on Friday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Cliff Brunt, The Associated Press