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Top five Toronto Raptors’ games of the 2019-20 NBA season

By Pirasanth Gunasekaram

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 22: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors dribbles the ball as Tim Hardaway Jr. #11 of the Dallas Mavericks defends during the second half of an NBA game at Scotiabank Arena on December 22, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors – Kyle Lowry (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

5. The Toronto Raptors’ season opener game vs the New Orleans Pelicans

This was the first game of the 2019-20 season for the Raptors. This was also the night where they received their 2018-19 championship rings and raised their banner to the rafters. On top of that Oct. 22 night, Raptor fans got a really great game to kick off their season.

Zion Williamson was supposed to make his NBA debut on that night, but he did not play due to a torn right knee meniscus injury.

Toronto won the game with the help of Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet who both dropped 34 points. Siakam also had 18 rebounds and five assists While VanVleet had seven assists and five rebounds.

Pelicans small forward Brandon Ingram finished the game with 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Raptors had a messy start with their handling of the ball. That caused a 13-4 start for the Pelicans.

Once J.J. Redick hit a three-point shot, Toronto called a quick timeout. Once the timeout was over, the home team settled and played the right way with Siakam and Lowry leading the way.

After VanVleet’s layup cut the deficit to one, Siakam followed that play by hitting two free throws and that gave Toronto a 20-19 lead. But eventually, the Pelicans came back and took the lead 30-27 at the end of the first quarter.

During the second quarter, Terence Davis scored his first basket as a Raptor and that shot cut New Orleans’ lead to 49-46 with 3:37 left. The Pelicans managed to hold their lead and extending it at end of the first half 61-56.

The Raptors came back to the game looking different in the second half than in the first. It looked like they were fresh, well-rested, and reenergized.

After an Anunoby dunk, Toronto led the game 73-70 lead. the Raptors finished the third quarter by leading the game 88-86.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, Siakam’s back-to-back three-pointers gave the Raptors a 103-99 advantage. However, the Pelicans came back with a 10-0 run.

But then Siakam converted a three-point play and was followed by a putback dunk that gave Toronto a 110-109 lead with 2:37 left to play. That would the final point he scored because he was fouled out of the game with 59.2 seconds left.

Anunoby defense’s forced Jrue Holiday to take a tough shot which allowed Powell to grab a key rebound to secure the win. However, he missed a long three-point attempt at the buzzer and that caused the game to go to overtime.

During overtime, both teams were tied at 122. That all changed when VanVleet shooting the three and Lowry hitting two free throws then hitting a three-point shot of his own with 56 seconds left. That got the Raptors in an 8-0 run which gave them the 130-122 victory in their season opener.

Both teams did play each other later in the season on Nov. 8 where the Raptors once again beat the Pelicans 122-104.

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