Toronto Jan. 5 (BUS): Fred van Vliet scored 33 points, Pascal Siakam scored 18 points and 12 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors extended their winning streak to three points by beating the San Antonio Spurs 129-104.
Gary Trent Jr. scored 21 points as the Raptors contributed to equaling the 17-17 record, reaching 0.500 for the first time since they were 7-7 after losing their ground on November 13 to Detroit.
The Associated Press reports that the Raptors have won eight out of 10 on their home ground.
Toronto’s OG Anunoby scored 14 points, rookie Scotty Barnes scored 11 and created the best eight assists of his career. Justin Champagne scored a career high of 14 with the Raptors, which matches his season tally.
Vanfleet topped 30 points for the third match in a row and the fourth time in his past five matches. He is the first Raptors player to score 30 or more in three consecutive games since Kawhi Leonard did it in four consecutive games from January 13 to 27, 2019.
“You realize you’re in a rhythm and you just try to hold out as long as you can, because it’s not always that way,” VanVleet said. “I try to keep my room floor a little higher but when you’re hot you just have to be aggressive and get rid of it as much as you can.”
VanVleet fired 12 for 23 and scored a season high with seven three-pointers and 14 attempts from distance. He also got seven assists.
Barrett has 32, Randall has a big comeback as the Knicks beat the Pacers
Raptors coach Nick Norse said Vanfleet’s recent streak of strong showings has refined his All-Star credentials, but acknowledged that more Toronto wins will help bolster the goalkeeper’s status.
“I think he should be in the conversation,” said a nurse. “We have to climb some order. I just think that’s part of it. If we do that, it’s definitely worth it.”
Toronto scored a season-high with 30 assists and 18 shots for 44 from outside the arc, matching his season best making three-pointers.
Former Raptors player Jacob Boeltel scored 19 points, while Devin Fassel and rookie Josh Primo each scored 15 points, as the relegated Tottenham lost their fourth in a row. Joe Weskamp scored 13 points and Derek White scored 12 for San Antonio.
“I thought Jacob was great tonight,” said Tottenham manager Gregg Popovich. “I was really happy to see Jacob being as assertive as he was in attack. With two G-League players, Josh and Joe, I thought they were great. Devin was pretty strong but we didn’t get much from anyone else.”
Toronto led 30-29 after one, and continued its lead by 14-1 per second. The Raptors shot 7-14 from a 3-point range in the second quarter and led 68-53 in the first half.
Toronto advanced 97-81 to finish fourth.
Abdominal muscle division
VanVleet has scored 30 or more six times this season, which is the number of times he did so in 52 games last season.
home crowd’
In the third match in a row, only family and friends of the players were allowed into the ring. Toronto-born Primo was expecting to have a group of “hundreds” in his first professional match in Canada, but had to reduce that to around 20.
“It’s great to be in my hometown, playing in front of some family and friends,” Primo said. “Playing in this arena brings back memories of coming to the Air Canada hub at the time, watching the matches and wanting to be on that stage. Now that I’m here, it’s a moment I’m grateful to have.”
Back to work
F Keita Bates-Diop came off the bench with Tottenham after missing Saturday’s overtime loss in Detroit with a right hamstring injury. He scored seven points in 16 minutes.
Hint
Tottenham: F Devontae Cacok, F Doug McDermott and G Lonnie Walker IV were not available (health and safety protocols) while G Dejounte Murray (conditioning) did not play. … reached the highest level of the season with 20 turnover.
Birds of prey: F Svi Mykhailiuk and F Yuta Watanabe entered into health and safety protocols. … F Isaac Bonga is back after missing the previous four matches. Bonga was in health and safety protocols for three games, then sat down on Sunday to adapt. … Toronto also scored 129 points and made 18 three-pointers in an overtime loss in Brooklyn on Dec. 14.
next one
Tottenham: Visit Boston on Wednesday.
Birds of Prey: Visit Milwaukee on Wednesdays.