Immanuel Quickley praised the Toronto Raptors’ teamwork following their 103-101 upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night at Paycom Center. He emphasized the collective effort that led to critical fourth-quarter plays.
“RJ Barrett got me great shots getting downhill. Only got 20 for you, but he played great. Just the ball movement of the whole team was big time,” Quickley said, referencing the two key threes he knocked down late in the game.
He highlighted the defensive contributions that limited Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. “Credit to Ja’Kobe, Scott, Jamal, everybody that was on them. Shai still had his 24, but we made life very difficult for him,” Quickley noted. He also recognized the coaching staff for their preparation. “Credit to the coaching staff, Jama, Darko, PD, Coco—they came up with a great game plan.”
Quickley discussed how Toronto handled Oklahoma’s size advantage. “It’s a talented team, champs on the road, crazy crowd. We stuck to the game plan, made other guys beat us, kept it close, and then were able to make some shots at the end,” he explained.
He also praised the performance of Ja’Kobe Walter. “Kobe always got that confidence, that swagger. He didn’t make as many threes as usual, but his defense and willingness to take big shots is something you want to see in a young player,” Quickley said.
On his own performance, Quickley credited mindset over physical adjustments. “I didn’t catch fire. I stay even-keeled, keep working, watch film, take care of my body, and trust in God. Mindset is probably 80% of professional sports,” he said.
Toronto led 64-60 at halftime and countered Oklahoma’s third-quarter surge to take a 101-99 lead. Scottie Barnes’ late block on Chet Holmgren preserved the advantage, and Quickley’s rebound after Jamal Shead missed two free throws led to two clutch free throws with 8.2 seconds remaining.
Quickley finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds. RJ Barrett contributed 14, while Barnes posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 24 for the Thunder, extending his streak to 117 consecutive 20-point games, the second-longest in NBA history. Lu Dort had a season-high 19 points, and Holmgren added 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Raptors improved to 29-19, earning their fourth straight victory, while the Thunder fell to 37-10. Toronto will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday, and Oklahoma faces the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday.
