Basketball is usually a game of runs, but what happened on December 22, 2019, wasn't a run. It was an anomaly. It was a glitch in the collective memory of the Scotiabank Arena. Down by 30 points in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks, the Toronto Raptors didn't just crawl back. They ignited a 31-0 scoring streak that stands as the longest unanswered run in the play-by-play era of the NBA.
If you weren't watching, you missed the moment the reigning champs proved they still had the heart of a lion, even without Kawhi Leonard. Most teams pack it in when they're down 85-55. The Raptors decided to throw a full-court press at a confused Mavs squad and didn't stop until they’d made history.
The setup for a miracle
The context matters here. Toronto was beat up. Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol, and Norman Powell were all sidelined with injuries. It looked like a scheduled loss. Rick Carlisle’s Mavericks were cruising, led by a clinical offense that seemed to score at will. By the time the third quarter was winding down, fans were already heading for the exits to beat the Sunday night traffic.
Then, Nick Nurse went to the bench. He didn't have much choice. He put in a lineup of Kyle Lowry, Chris Boucher, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Terence Davis, and Malcolm Miller. On paper, that’s a "let's just get this over with" unit. In reality, it was a group of hungry players with nothing to lose.
They started pressing.
Dallas couldn't handle the length. They couldn't handle the speed. Suddenly, the lead wasn't 30. It was 20. Then 15. The energy in the building shifted from funeral-quiet to a deafening roar.
Breaking down the 31-0 math
To understand how rare this is, you have to look at the sheer probability. In an NBA game, both teams usually score every few possessions. To go several minutes without a single point—while the other team scores on almost every trip—is statistically wild.
The run actually spanned the end of the third and the start of the fourth quarter. It wasn't just about hot shooting. Toronto forced turnovers, got out in transition, and dominated the glass. Chris Boucher was flying everywhere. Kyle Lowry, the undisputed greatest Raptor of all time, took over the scoring load like a man possessed. He finished with 32 points, 20 of them in the fourth quarter alone.
- The Pressure: The full-court press rattled Jalen Brunson and Kristaps Porzingis.
- The Pace: Toronto pushed the ball after every miss and every turnover.
- The Crowd: The "Jurassic Park" energy traveled inside the arena, creating a hostile environment for a young Dallas team that folded under the noise.
It wasn't just a comeback. It was a defensive masterclass that reminded everyone why the 2019-2020 Raptors were actually one of the best defensive teams in league history, even after losing their Finals MVP.
Why this run still matters today
People often forget that the 2019-2020 season was interrupted by the pandemic. Before the world shut down, this Raptors team was on pace for 60 wins. This 31-0 run against Dallas was the definitive proof of their culture. It showed that the "Next Man Up" philosophy wasn't just a locker room cliché. It was a reality.
I’ve watched a lot of basketball, and I’ve seen teams blow big leads. Usually, it happens slowly. A triple here, a couple of free throws there. But this was different. It felt like a tidal wave. Dallas looked like they’d forgotten how to dribble.
Honestly, the Mavericks were shell-shocked. Rick Carlisle even admitted after the game that they’d struggled against the press, but nobody expected a collapse of that magnitude. It remains a cautionary tale for any team that thinks a 30-point lead is safe in the modern NBA.
Tactical lessons from Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse gained a reputation for being a "mad scientist" coach. This game was his masterpiece. While other coaches might have conceded the game to save their starters' legs for the next night, Nurse doubled down on aggression.
He used a zone-press hybrid that trapped the ball-handler as soon as they crossed half-court. This forced the Mavs into low-percentage shots and hurried passes. When you combine that defensive intensity with Kyle Lowry’s ability to draw fouls and hit transition threes, you get a historic 31-0 run.
How to watch for a comeback like this
If you're betting on games or just a die-hard fan, there are signs that a run is coming. Look at the body language. When the Mavericks stopped moving the ball and started looking at the clock, they were done.
Watch for the "energy guys" on the bench. In this game, Chris Boucher and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson provided the spark. They didn't care about the score; they only cared about the next possession. That’s how you chip away at a mountain.
The Raptors eventually won the game 110-107. They didn't just tie it; they took the lead and held on. It was the largest comeback in franchise history and the biggest in the NBA in over a decade.
If you ever feel like a game is over in the third quarter, remember the December night in Toronto. No lead is safe when a team stops playing to win and starts playing not to lose.
Go back and watch the highlights of that fourth quarter. Look at Lowry's face. Look at the confusion on the Dallas bench. It’s a reminder that in the NBA, momentum is a terrifying force. If you want to see what championship DNA looks like without the superstars on the floor, that 31-0 stretch is the only tape you need to watch.
