Raptors seek faster start in encounter vs. Kings

The Toronto Raptors will aim to find their shooting touch a little bit quicker and return to a winning mode on Wednesday night when they host the Sacramento Kings.

The Raptors did not score a field goal until there was 4:51 left in the first quarter in their 127-116 road loss to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night.

Despite missing its first 10 shot attempts from the field, Toronto kept it close until Detroit took charge of the game with a 41-27 third quarter.

"I think they started the third quarter pretty aggressive," RJ Barrett said. "We tried to do some things to slow them down but they were able to work pretty quickly. ...They made shots. It's hard to beat a team that is making shots."

Detroit shot 60.3% (44-for-73) from the field while Toronto shot 48.3% (43-for-89).

"We played some very good defense in the first quarter, we just did not make open shots," Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said. "We had a drought shooting 3s in the first half, shooting only 3-for-15."

Barrett scored 24 points and Brandon Ingram contributed 22 for the Raptorts, who played without Immanuel Quickley (foot).

After trailing by as many as 23 points, Toronto made a late run spurred by reserves Sandro Mamukelashvili (16 points), Collin Murray-Boyles (14 points, 10 rebounds) and A.J. Lawson (13 points).

Murray-Boyles and Mamukelashvili have played significant minutes at times, but Lawson is now getting his chance as well.

"The season is so long that at some point players are going to get their opportunities, and how they respond in those moments can be very significant for their individual careers," Rajakovic said. "Every player is super important for us, through our player development and how much we're investing in those guys."

The Raptors (42-33) had won two in a row and three of four before the loss to Detroit as they jockey down the stretch for playoff positioning. They are sixth in the Eastern Conference and want to avoid dropping into a play-in spot.

The Kings (19-57) have long since stopped thinking about the playoffs.

They have dropped four straight and six of seven after a 116-99 road loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Kings coach Doug Christie was not impressed by his team's effort early in the game.

"This is about professionalism," Christie said."I thought early that we didn't meet the level of physicality. Then, in the third quarter, we came out and met the level, and just kind of ran out of gas. But that first quarter is not really who we are and what we want to be about, and what we put out when we put on a Sacramento Kings jersey."

Sacramento trailed 31-18 after the first quarter.

They have been hampered by injuries and among the missing on Sunday were DeMar DeRozan, a long-time Raptor, and Russell Westbrook.

"But that's no excuse," Christie said. "These are valuable opportunities for our young players to figure out how to play and play with each other."

Devin Carter led Sacramento's scoring with 20 points on Sunday. Nique Clifford scored 17 points and former Raptor Precious Achiuwa had 16 points and eight rebounds.

They also were playing their third game in four days.

"It doesn't matter if it's three in four nights, four in seven, whatever it is, you have to come to compete," Christie said.