The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Scotiabank Arena short-handed on Tuesday night and left with a 116-107 victory over the Toronto Raptors, picking up their fifth win in six games. Cason Wallace matched his career high with 27 points and Isaiah Joe delivered 22 off the bench, providing more than enough firepower for the NBA-best Thunder to overcome a slow start and pull away from the Raptors in front of 19,153 fans in Toronto.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Raptors Strike First, 32-25
Toronto came out of the gate with energy, outscoring Oklahoma City 32-25 in the opening frame to take an early seven-point lead. The Raptors moved the ball well in the first quarter, connecting at a solid rate from the perimeter and building a cushion that had the home crowd engaged early. OKC struggled to find its footing against Toronto’s pace in those opening 12 minutes, but the deficit was far from insurmountable for a team with their pedigree.
Second Quarter: Thunder Flip the Script, 35-19
The second quarter was where this game changed completely. Oklahoma City responded to its sluggish start with a dominant 35-19 second period — the most productive quarter of the night for either team. The Thunder’s defense tightened considerably, and their offense found a rhythm through Wallace and Joe. That 16-point swing erased Toronto’s first-quarter advantage and sent OKC into halftime leading 60-51. It was the kind of momentum shift that defines a road team with championship-level composure.
Third Quarter: Thunder Extend the Lead, 38-29
Toronto could not solve the Thunder’s defense in the third quarter, and OKC continued to build on its halftime advantage by outscoring the Raptors 38-29 in the period. The Thunder pushed their lead into double digits and largely controlled the pace of play. With OKC’s depth and ball movement clicking, the Raptors had no clear answer to slow the onslaught. Heading into the fourth, the Thunder held a comfortable 98-80 advantage.
Fourth Quarter: Raptors Make It Interesting, 27-18
Toronto’s final push in the fourth quarter showed some fight, outscoring Oklahoma City 27-18 in the closing frame to cut into the deficit. The Raptors’ late-game energy made the final margin of 116-107 look closer than the game actually felt through three quarters. OKC managed the closing minutes without panic, preserving the road win despite a competitive finish from the home side.
Key Performers
Cason Wallace — Oklahoma City Thunder
Wallace was the story of the night for the Thunder. The young guard matched his career high with 27 points, providing the offensive leadership OKC needed in the absence of some key contributors. His performance was a clear statement that the Thunder’s roster depth is a genuine asset, and that Wallace is ready to assume a bigger role whenever called upon.
Isaiah Joe — Oklahoma City Thunder
Joe complemented Wallace’s big night with 22 points, continuing his role as one of the Thunder’s most reliable secondary scorers. Joe’s ability to stretch the floor and knock down shots off the bench gives OKC a consistent weapon that opposing defenses have to account for, and he delivered when it mattered in Toronto.
RJ Barrett — Toronto Raptors
Barrett led the Raptors with 21 points and 8 rebounds, doing his best to keep Toronto competitive. He was the top-rated Raptor on the night, showing his value as the team’s most well-rounded offensive option. Despite his efforts, the second-quarter collapse proved too costly for Toronto to fully overcome.
Scottie Barnes — Toronto Raptors
Barnes was Toronto’s engine in the playmaking department, recording a game-high 7 assists. While his scoring numbers may not have dominated the box score, his ability to facilitate and create for teammates gave the Raptors their best offensive moments throughout the contest.
Game Analysis
The story of this game was Oklahoma City’s second-quarter response. Toronto outplayed the Thunder in the first 12 minutes and had every reason to believe it could build on that lead, but OKC flipped a switch in the second frame and made it look easy. The Thunder’s depth was on full display — even without some of their usual contributors, they had enough talent and system cohesion to manufacture a dominant quarter and bury the Raptors before halftime.
From a Toronto perspective, the numbers tell a mixed story. The Raptors shot a respectable 46.6% from the field and an impressive 47.4% from three-point range (18-of-38), while also finishing with 30 assists — strong process numbers that simply could not compensate for a 19-point second quarter. The free-throw line was also a concern for the Raptors, who converted just 7-of-12 attempts (58.3%). In a nine-point game, those missed free throws are the kind of detail that separates competitive losses from wins.
OKC’s ability to win on the road while short-handed speaks to the culture Sam Presti has built. The Thunder do not rely on one or two stars to carry them; they trust the system, spread the ball, and let contributors step up. Wallace and Joe were exactly that on Tuesday night.
Standings and Series Implications
With the win, Oklahoma City improves to what continues to be the best record in the NBA, reinforcing their status as the Western Conference’s top contender. Going 5-1 over their last six games — including this road win in Toronto — underscores just how consistent this group has been all season. For the Raptors, now sitting at 34-24 on the year, the loss is a minor setback in what remains a solid season. Toronto holds a 16-14 home record and an impressive 18-10 mark on the road, and they will look to regroup quickly. Both teams continue to position themselves for the playoff push, but Tuesday night belonged to the Thunder and their increasingly deep supporting cast.
