Toronto Raptors and Pascal Siakam started this season pretty strong. The Most Improved Player of the previous year seems to earn another award, only this time it might be the MVP. Meanwhile, the Raptors are 4-1, and the latest victim of the reigning NBA champions were the Detroit Pistons, 125-113.
Siakam was the key piece for this triumph, dropping 30 on Detroit’s defense, he tore apart the guests from Michigan.
“Just having the coach trust me to have the ball in my hands … it feels good and the more comfortable I’m going to get.”
Nick Nurse’s guys had an excellent first and third period in which his team created the decisive difference. The first one ended with 37-28, but the Pistons managed to come back for one brief moment in the second sequence when they decreased the result to 41-40.
The Raptors have found a strength to pull away again, and the result at the halftime was 64-58 for the home team. However, the third period began in the best possible way for Toronto, who made an 18-4 run, which quickly propelled Siakam and the company to 82-62. Although it was the midpoint of the quarter, it was obvious that the Pistons aren’t going to come back from this knockdown. They kept the opponents at a safe distance and didn’t allow them to make any runs or take the momentum.
The former Raptors head coach, Dwane Casey, didn’t have a proper response for several guys he coached before. Casey won the Coach of the Year award in 2018 but was also fired the same summer, with Nurse replacing him. Many Raptors’ players are still thankful to the 62-year old for developing their game and allowing them to grow. It is why he received the warmest possible reception at the Scotiabank Arena.
“He’s a big part of my growth and my career,” Lowry said of Casey. “He’s one of the best gentlemen, the best men in the world. He’s always been supportive of me and I’ve always been supportive of him and we grew together.”
Lowry had 20 points, 8 assists and 5 boards, Siakam added 5 boards and assists each, whooting 13 of 21 from the field. OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet both posted 13, with the note that Anynoby had 8 boards and VanVleet 11 assists.
Serge Ibaka and Norman Powell did a fantastic job coming off the bench scoring 19 points each.
On the other side, the guests played without Blake Griffin. Andre Drummond had a terrific double-double – 21 points and 22 boards, with three assists. Markieff Morris scored 16. Derrick Rose didn’t start this match, and in 21 minutes off the bench, he delivered 16 points, with 10 dimes. Luke Galloway had 17 buckets.
The Pistons are now traveling to Chicago to meet the divisional rivals, the Bulls this Friday. The day after, Casey’s guys are hosting the Brooklyn Nets at Little Caesars Arena.
Raptors have a big game coming up in Milwaukee against the Bucks in the rematch of the Eastern Conference Finals. The event will take place on Saturday. Following that, they host the Kings on Wednesday night.
