The Raptors 905 picked an unfortunate time to lose their first game of the season.
The Toronto Raptors' G League affiliate lost 137-112 to the Salt Lake City Stars — the Utah Jazz affiliate — in the final of the Winter Showcase in Orlando on Monday night.
Entering the annual exhibition final, the 905 had won 16 straight, going undefeated throughout the tip-off tournament, and then beat the San Diego Clippers and Grand Rapids Gold in the knockout rounds of the Winter Showcase.
It all came crashing down against a big and productive Stars side, as they jumped out to a 44-28 lead after the first quarter and never looked back.
The Stars went 15-of-21 in the first quarter and were led by a huge outburst by centre Mo Bamba, who scored 11 points in the final three minutes of the frame. The 27-year-old finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds, five and three blocks.
Despite the loss, Raptors rookie Alijah Martin had another strong showing for the 905, finishing with a game-high 33 points, along with six rebounds and four assists.
However, inefficient games from Jonathan Mogbo (six points on three-of-10 from the field) and Chucky Hepburn (10 points on three-of-11 from the field) proved to be their undoing.
On the other end, they were bombarded by former Oral Roberts NCAA folk hero Max Abmas, who scored a team-high 29 points and shot six-for-10 from three-point range off the bench. He hit two three-pointers in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter to build the Stars' lead to 26, putting the game out of reach.
With the loss, the Raptors 905 will return to Mississauga, where back-to-back matchups with the Maine Celtics await them on Saturday and Sunday.
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