(Toronto) Fred VanVleet had 32 points, Pascal Siakam had 29 points and the Toronto Raptors posted a sixth straight win this time by a score of 105-101 over the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
VanVleet scored two three-point baskets to give the lead and then put in the winning basket for the Raptors. He averaged 31.2 points per game and 6.7 assists in the Raptors’ winning streak.
” He [VanVleet] really took Kyle Lowry’s place now, ”said former Raptors member Jonas Valanciunas, who finished the game with 20 points for the Pelicans. “He’s a captain, a leader on the pitch. ”
Leading by one point at halftime, the Raptors built a 10-point lead to 79-69 in the third quarter. The Pelicans responded with eight straight points to close the quarter.
A good streak from the Raptors led by Siakam gave Nick Nurse a nine-point cushion and the score was 91-82. The Pelicans fought back, once again, with seven successive points. Valanciunas tied the game at 93-93 with 3:50 left in the game.
A three-point basket from Herbert Jones gave the Pelicans the 99-96 lead. VanVleet handled the response with two three-runner baskets and the Raptors led 102-99 with 1:31 to go.
“We find ourselves in a precarious situation and we needed a tie-breaker game,” said Nurse. And obviously he made three important baskets in a row. A man of great occasions. A desire to win, a very great desire.
After a basket from Brandon Ingram of the Pelicans, the Quebecois finished the job for the Raptors. Chris Boucher made a two-point basket followed by a point from Khem Birch from the free throw line to close the game.
“It reminded us of the good times… It’s a good feeling. It’s a lot of fun, Siakam said of the team’s recent successes. When we have the wind in our sails, it’s really fun. ”
Toronto was without the services of Gary Trent Fils. who was taken out of the roster just minutes from the game. Birch replaced him on the starting five.
Birch had six points and four rebounds in 20 minutes of work. Boucher scored 6 points in 28 minutes and picked up 8 rebounds.