VanVleet comes up big late to help Raptors down Pelicans for sixth straight win

TORONTO - Fred VanVleet stepped up once more when wanted for the Toronto Raptors.

With the sport tied at 93-93 and the cussed New Orleans Pelicans refusing to go away, VanVleet scored the Raptors’ subsequent 9 factors — all three pointers, with Pascal Siakam helping on two of them — en path to a 105-101 victory Sunday that prolonged the Raptors’ win streak to a season-high six video games.

“We bought ourselves in a scenario the place we would have liked him to make some large performs,” stated Toronto coach Nick Nurse. “And clearly he made about three actually big ones in a row. Huge photographs man, large photographs. Only a nice will, will to win.”

VanVleet, who completed with 32 factors, has averaged 31.2 factors and 6.7 assists through the six-game win streak

“Man, he took Kyle Lowry’s spot now,” former Raptor Jonas Valanciunas, who completed with 20 factors and 17 rebounds for the Pelicans, stated of VanVleet. “He’s a captain, a courtroom captain.

“I believe he’s taking part in at an all-star stage. He’s proved that he could be a chief on the courtroom and off the courtroom.”

Siakam added 29 factors for Toronto. He has averaged 23.7 factors through the run of wins.

Main by one on the half, the Raptors constructed that benefit to 10 at 79-69 within the third quarter. However New Orleans, because it had all sport, answered with an 8-0 run — coupled with some aggressive defence — to path 79-77 going into the fourth.

Siakam led Toronto with 13 factors within the third together with his seven straight factors preserving the Raptors offence ticking to open the fourth. An 8-0 Toronto run additionally helped put a long way on the scoreboard.

A 7-0 New Orleans run reduce the result in 91-89. And Valanciunas, from beneath the basket, tied it at 93-93 with 3:50 remaining and the Pelicans outscoring Toronto 11-2.

VanVleet’s three-pointer nudged Toronto forward however the Pelicans answered with three-pointers from Devonte’ Graham and Herbert Jones for a 99-96 lead.

VanVleet answered with a long-range moonshot of his personal after which knocked down one other to make it 102-99 with 1:31 remaining.

After a Brandon Ingram bucket, a Chris Boucher tip-in made it 104-101. Khem Birch bought an enormous rebound, going to the road within the course of for a 105-101 lead.

Toronto (20-17) had rallied for a 122-108 comeback win over the undermanned Utah Jazz on Friday, led by VanVleet’s first profession triple-double (37 factors, 10 assists and 10 rebounds). That adopted consecutive victories over Milwaukee, San Antonio, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Clippers, with the 5 straights wins tying a season excessive.

Toronto has gained 10 of its final 12 video games at dwelling.

The Pelicans (14-26) had been coming off a 101-96 dwelling win over a depleted Golden State on Thursday however had misplaced 4 of 5 earlier than that.

Siakam completed with 10 rebounds and 7 assists for his team-leading eighth double-double of the season. VanVleet made 8-of-17 three-point photographs, a season greatest.

The 2 mixed for 19 of the crew’s 26 factors within the fourth quarter.

Regardless of Valanciunas’ efforts on the boards, Toronto outrebounded New Orleans 46-35, together with 15-7 on the offensive glass, and picked up 24 second-chance factors in comparison with the Pelicans’ six.

Toronto has outrebounded opponents 89-50 on the offensive finish over the past six video games.

“Clearly it undoubtedly reminds us of previous occasions … It feels good. It’s enjoyable,” Siakam stated of the crew’s current success. “Once we’re all rolling and taking part in nicely, it’s enjoyable.”

Ingram led the Pelicans with 22 factors. 5 Pelicans completed in double figures.

“I’m extraordinarily excited and proud at what our group is doing proper now,” stated New Orleans coach Willie Inexperienced. “I stated that within the locker-room. We put ourselves able to win the sport and that’s what you need. You need alternatives night time in and night time out.

“Sadly we didn’t give you the win however we fought, we battled, we performed collectively, we stayed collectively, we performed a sport with pleasure. Our purpose is to proceed to enhance and over the past 20 video games, we’re at .500 (10-10). We wish to be higher however that may be a playoff crew. We’ve simply bought to maintain our foot on the fuel. Lots of basketball left.”

With Toronto’s Birch on the bench in foul bother, Valanciunas accomplished a double-double halfway via the third quarter.

VanVleet continued the place he left off Friday, scoring seven of the Raptors’ first 14 factors and helping on two extra. Toronto constructed an early nine-point lead, solely to see New Orleans pull forward 24-22 on an 11-0 run due to a lift from the Pelican bench.

VanVleet completed with 13 factors within the quarter with Toronto main 27-26.

A 11-2 run to open the second quarter, helped by some stiff defence, gave the Raptors a 10-point lead. New Orleans answered with an 14-0 run to drag forward 46-43 with Toronto lacking six straight photographs.

An OG Anunoby putback dunk gave the Raptors a 49-48 lead on the finish of a primary half that noticed six lead adjustments. Ten Pelican turnovers helped the Toronto trigger.

Toronto was with out the injured Gary Trent Jr., a late scratch resulting from left ankle swelling, and Yuta Watanabe (well being and security protocols). Birch, a six-foot-nine Canadian, changed Trent within the beginning lineup.

New Orleans was lacking beginning guard Josh Hart, who didn't make the journey north of the border due to a contact-tracing problem, based on the Instances-Picayune. Star ahead Zion Williamson has but to play this season due to a foot fracture.

Tomas Satoransky was out resulting from well being and security protocols whereas Kira Lewis Jr. (knee) is injured. Didi Louzada is serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA/NBPA’s anti-drug program

The six-foot-11 Valanciunas, who final performed in Toronto on Dec. 9, 2018. spent six-plus seasons with the Raptors and stands second on the crew’s all-time rebounding record (3,961) and seventh in scoring (5,524).

It was additionally a return dwelling for New Orleans guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, a Toronto native. He completed with 11 factors.

Previous to the sport, the Pelicans waived Jared Harper and introduced the signing of ahead Gary Clark to a two-way contract.

Toronto wraps up its three-game homestand towards the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. The Pelicans host Minnesota on Tuesday.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Jan. 9, 2022