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A20 SPORTS
Thursday 24 OcTOber 2019

VanVleet scores career-high 34, Raptors top Pelicans 130-122

By IAN HARRISON run. "They made a couple Raptors one last shot with
Associated Press of big plays at the end that 8.9 seconds to go.
TORONTO (AP) — The gave them separation," Powell got the ball, but his
Toronto Raptors slipped on Pelicans coach Alvin long 3-pointer hit the back
shiny new rings, unfurled Gentry said. "That was the of the rim and bounced
a championship banner, difference in the game." out, sending it to overtime.
then got their title defense Brandon Ingram scored 22 Before the game, the
started with a hard-fought points and Josh Hart had Raptors received the
victory. Fred VanVleet 15 points and 10 rebounds biggest championship rings
scored a career-high 34 for New Orleans, which in NBA history and unfurled
points, Pascal Siakam began the season without a banner celebrating their
fouled out with 34 points No. 1 pick Zion Williamson. six-game triumph over
and 18 rebounds, and JJ Redick scored 16 points, Golden State last June.
the defending champion Nicolò Melli had 14 and "I have to start lifting more
Raptors beat the New Holiday added 13. weights so I can carry it
Orleans Pelicans 130-122 The Pelicans made 19 around," VanVleet joked.
in overtime on Tuesday turnovers, leading to 22 The Raptors lost NBA Finals
night in the NBA's season- Toronto points. Twelve of MVP Kawhi Leonard to
opening game. New Orleans' turnovers the Los Angeles Clippers in
"Pascal and Freddy, they Toronto Raptors' Norman Powell, Serge Ibaka, Marc Gasol and came in the second half free agency, and also saw
are the young core, they Pascal Siakam , from left, stand with their rings behind the Larry and overtime. guard Danny Green leave
are the guys who will carry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy before playing the New "We played hard, but we've for the Lakers. Before the
this thing on," Raptors Orleans Pelicans in Toronto on Tuesday Oct. 22, 2019. also got to play smart," game, Gentry said losing a
guard Kyle Lowry said. "I'm Associated Press Gentry said. "We didn't play star player doesn't always
so happy for those guys Raptors won their seventh VanVleet said. Pelicans smart down the stretch hurt a team's fortunes.
to go out and perform like straight season opener guard Jrue Holiday tied it there." "Bryce Harper is gone,
tonight. We'll see them and posted their eighth win at 122 by making a pair of Lowry made a pair of too, but where are
grow all year." in nine meetings with the free throws with 2:23 left in free throws to tie it 117- the Nationals?" Gentry
Lowry scored 22 points, Pelicans. overtime. Lowry answered all with 29 seconds left in asked rhetorically about
including a pair of free "It's very fun to be in the with his foul shots, VanVleet regulation, and Toronto's Washington's World Series
throws that put Toronto position that we're in where hit a corner 3, and Lowry Norman Powell grabbed baseball team. "I wouldn't
in the lead for good, and we just won it but we're also connected from long the rebound on a missed count these guys out just
Serge Ibaka had 13 as the kind of on the climb again," range to cap a decisive 8-0 shot by Holiday, giving the yet."q