Pascal Siakam had a game-high 32 points and nine assists and the Toronto Raptors dominated the Detroit Pistons en route to a 118-97 win on Friday night.
Chris Boucher added 19 points and 13 rebounds off the bench and Fred VanVleet poured in 18 points for Toronto (36-38), which ended its two-game skid.
It was the Raptors’ first season sweep of the Pistons since the 2017-18 campaign. Toronto also improved to 7-0 on the year when holding its opponents to under 100 points.
Jaden Ivey scored 20 points for Detroit (16-58), which had its losing streak extended to five games. Marvin Bagley III added 14 points and nine rebounds and James Wiseman also scored 14.
Toronto moved within half a game of Atlanta for eighth place in the Eastern Conference with eight games remaining in the regular season.
The Raptors, who entered Friday averaging an NBA-leading 9.3 steals per game had seven of their 12 steals in the first half.
O.G. Anunoby kick-started a 7-0 Toronto run with a three-pointer and Will Barton capped it with a fast-break layup after a VanVleet steal to put the Raptors ahead 17-7 with 7:45 left in the first quarter.
Thirty-five seconds later, Barton hit a corner three to increase the lead. Toronto went 5-of-7 from three-point range up to that point and closed the frame up 38-26.
The Pistons trimmed the deficit early in the second with a 7-2 run, only for Siakam to foil their momentum. The all-star forward scored seven of his 26 first-half points in a 9-2 Toronto run that followed.
After a pair of free throws with 46.1 seconds left, Jakob Poeltl blocked a Bagley floater attempt and Toronto went into halftime ahead 72-52.
Anunoby’s 18-foot jumper with 2:03 left in the third gave the Raptors their largest lead of the night to that point at 22 points, and went into the fourth with a 92-73 edge.
Boucher scored five points in an 8-3 Toronto run early to make it a 104-77 game. The Montreal native had an emphatic put back dunk over Pistons centre Jalen Duren after a Siakam miss and hit the free throw after. Boucher then blocked Duren, and two possessions later, hit a three-pointer.
Detroit failed to get within 19 points of the Raptors throughout the frame.
CANADIAN HISTORY
Pistons coach Dwane Casey expressed his pride in the history made on Wednesday in Toronto. In starting Andrew Nembhard of Aurora, Ont., Bennedict Mathurin of Montreal and Oshae Brissett of Mississauga, Ont., the Indiana Pacers became the first team since starters were officially tracked in 1970-71 to start three Canadian-born players in an NBA game.
“They really played well and there’s something to that and I was just proud to see the growth of Canadian basketball starting with that group,” Casey said pre-game. “And being here, in the (United) States they probably look at it ‘Uhh,’ but I understand the magnitude of that and how important that is and it was really beautiful to see.”
INJURIES
The Raptors remained without forwards Precious Achiuwa (right hamstring tightness), Scottie Barnes (left wrist soreness), Joe Wieskamp (right hamstring strain) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (right elbow stiffness).
UP NEXT
Raptors: Close their two-game homestand against the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
Pistons: Return home to play the NBA-best Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
References:
By: Canadian PressTitle: Siakam’s 32-point, nine-assist effort lifts Raptors to win over Pistons
Sourced From: www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/siakams-32-point-nine-assist-effort-lifts-raptors-to-win-over-pistons/
Published Date: 03-25-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Raptors win this year's NBA championship?
On July 18, 2018, the Toronto Raptors traded DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl, and a protected 2019 first-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
On February 7, 2019, Jonas Valanciunas C.J. was traded by the Raptors to the Memphis Grizzlies. Miles, and a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc Gasol--another multiple All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year--and signed Jeremy Lin shortly after that.
The Toronto Raptors' offseason was very exciting. They made two huge trades that caused shockwaves throughout the NBA. DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poltl, as well as a 2019 draft pick (that was secured) were the first trades made by the Raptors. In exchange they received Kawhi and Danny Green from Spurs. Then they traded Jonas Valanciunas to the Spurs and Delon WrightC.J. Miles, and a 2024 second-round draft pick to the Memphis Grizzlies for Marc Gasol--another multiple All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year. These trades put the Raptors in an excellent position to contend for an NBA championship this season. Let's take a closer look at each trade.
Kawhi Leonard trade was a risky move by the Raptors. Leonard is a top-5 pick in the league, when healthy, and just finished an MVP-caliber campaign. He was injured and only played nine games last year, so there are concerns about his long-term well-being. But the Raptors decided that it was worth the risk, and they signed the deal. Leonard has been healthy thus far and is playing at an All Star standard. Leonard averages 26 points and 8 rebounds per game. He also shoots 49% from behind the arc and 38% at three-point range. If he keeps his health good, he could be a key to the Raptors winning the NBA title.
Marc Gasol's trade was more a short-term deal than anything else. Gasol is now in his 30s and clearly has reached his peak. He is still a great player and brings valuable experience to the young Raptors team. He is averaging fifteen points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game. He shoots 45% from three-point range, while also shooting 45% from behind the arc. C.J. and Delon Wright, two of their young players, were traded by the Raptors. Miles to acquire Gasol, but they believe his experience will be invaluable come playoff time.
The Raptors started the season with a 6-0 record. They won their 16th game against Cleveland Cavaliers on November 23rd. This broke their franchise record of 20 consecutive wins. On December 1, they reached 20 wins faster than ever before. Also, after defeating Washington Wizards 140-138 in double overtime on January 13, the Raptors set a franchise record for scoring the most points in franchise history. The Raptors were cautious with Leonard, resting him for more than 20 games throughout the season to prevent worsening his previous injury. However, they managed to capture 2nd place in East, only trailing behind Milwaukee Bucks.
The Raptors were able to continue their winning streak in the playoffs by defeating the Philadelphia 76ers (Orlando Magic), Milwaukee Bucks (Milwaukee Bucks) to reach the NBA Finals. Leonard was named Finals MVP after the Raptors claimed their first title, beating the Golden State Warriors 6 to 6.
The Toronto Raptors had an extremely successful offseason. It paid off big. The Raptors are well-positioned to be contenders over the next few years, with two All-Stars. They have proven they can take risks and make bold moves when it comes down to building a championship-caliber team. It will be exciting to see if this team can continue their success.
Why did NBA leave Vancouver?
NBA pulled out of Vancouver due to a dispute over arena financing. The City of Vancouver was to contribute $40million towards the construction a new basketball venue. This would include 12 luxury suites as well as two restaurants, a bar and a hotel. The City Council wanted to provide $60 million in taxpayer funds to team owners to repay their existing debt. This meant that the city would have had to borrow $200m in order to build the arena. While the team owners had only to pay $20 million, this was a huge difference. This would mean that the city's taxpayers would be responsible for paying back the rest of the loan.
The City Council agreed that the plan could be approved if the NBA was willing to continue playing at Rogers Arena through the opening of the new facility. But the league refused, saying that the arena wasn’t large enough. They couldn't play there any more because the arena was too small. They felt that it was unfair for them to continue playing in a smaller space when they weren't receiving any additional revenue.
The City Council then asked the province to step in and help out by offering financial assistance. The Province agreed to contribute $150 million, but the City Council still required $100 million. The City decided to focus its efforts on building a new downtown arena and dropped its plans.
What is the name of the Toronto Raptors' mascot?
The Toronto Raptors are a NBA franchise which was established in 1995. They play their games in Scotiabank Arena.
Raptor is the Raptors' giant red dinosaur mascot. Raptor, who was introduced in 1995, entertains his fans with his acrobatics as well as slam dunks. He makes regular appearances in Toronto to support community projects and charities. In 2019, he received the NBA Mascot of the Year award for his many years of service to the Raptors organization. Raptor is a well-known figure in Toronto, as well as around the NBA. This makes him one of professional sports' most popular mascots. He is also a symbol of Canada's passion for basketball.
Many throughout the city and country share Raptor's enthusiasm for his team and its fans. With Raptor leading the way, the Raptors have become one of the most successful teams in the NBA, winning their first championship in 2019. This was a major milestone for basketball lovers in Canada and Toronto. Raptor will continue to be a source pride for all Raptors members. Raptors pride is guaranteed to continue as long as the Raptors are around. Long live the Raptor. Go, Toronto Raptors!
Why are the Toronto Raptors called Raptors?
The Toronto Raptors were founded in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. The name and logo of the team were inspired by Jurassic Park's film. The team colours include bright red, purple and black as well as silver.
The Raptors were struggling to establish themselves in the league during their first season. They ended up with a record 21-61. However, the team improved each year, and by 1999, they had made their first playoff appearance.
The Raptors' most memorable moment came in 2019 when they won their first NBA championship title. Led by the backcourt duo of Kyle Lowry and Kawhi Leonard, Toronto won their first championship in a thrilling six-game series against the Golden State Warriors.
Since then, Canada's most loved sports team, the Raptors, have been an institution. Toronto continues to provide excitement to basketball fans worldwide, whether they are international superstars or homegrown talent.
The Toronto Raptors are proud to be a part of Canada's basketball history. Their success on the court inspires young players across the country. The Raptors will continue being a favourite team because of their passionate fans and unique style.
Statistics
- Thomas named Raptors' GM NBA superstar to have 10% stake in the new franchise". (en.wikipedia.org)
- As predicted by analysts, the team easily secured a berth in the 2001 NBA playoffs with a franchise-high 47 wins. (en.wikipedia.org)
- This improved during the 2006–07 regular season to an average of 18,258 fans (13th in the league), 92.2 percent capacity at the Air Canada Centre. (en.wikipedia.org)
- In November of the 1996–97 season, Bitove sold his ownership interest in the team to Slaight for $65 million after Slaight had activated a shotgun clause in their partnership agreement,[32][33] giving Slaight 79 percent control of the team, [34] (en.wikipedia.org)
- By 2018, estimated the Raptors were worth $1.4 billion, 12th in the NBA. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
jerseymuseum.org
assets1.sportsnet.ca/basketball/nba/teams/toronto-raptors
sportingnews.com/ca
nba.com/raptors
How To
Time to attend a Toronto Raptors Game
Toronto Raptors' games take place between October and April on weekdays. Weekends are often reserved to attend concerts or festivals.
It's best to book tickets well in advance because they tend to sell out quickly.
When visiting a Toronto Raptors game, the most popular day to attend is Wednesday. Many fans show up early for pregame warmups.
Fans will then move to Nathan Phillips Square right next to the ACC. They stay there through the end.
It is best to attend a Toronto Raptor home game after 8 pm. The best time to visit a Toronto Raptor game is after 8 pm. Fans are welcome to return to celebrate the team’s victory.
