The Toronto Raptors needed someone to catch fire on the offensive end if they wanted to defeat the Orlando Magic for the second time in three days and get themselves right back in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference playoff push, and Fred VanVleet obliged with the greatest single-game scoring performance in Raptors history.
VanVleet was in a zone for the entirety of Toronto’s 123-108 win over Orlando, as he totaled 54 points in 37 minutes of action. In doing so, he set a new record for points in a game by a Raptors player, breaking DeMar DeRozan’s old record of 52. His 11 three-pointers ended up being one short of breaking Donyell Marshall’s record of 12 in one game.
As improbable as it sounds, VanVleet’s numbers were actually even more unbelievable and remarkable than the box score would indicate.
NEW RAPTORS RECORD.
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 3, 2021
54 POINTS.@FredVanVleet. WOW. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/OC5pmLPpw2
Fred VanVleet’s record-setting night against the Magic was unfathomably impressive
Insane Fred VanVleet Stat No. 1
Can you have a more perfect night that Fred VanVleet had? 54 points on 23 shots? 9-of-9 from the line; 11-of-14 from deep and -- AND -- three blocks and three steals and just one turnover.
— Michael Grange (@michaelgrange) February 3, 2021
Fred VanVleet did more than just hit threes
Oftentimes in record-breaking scoring performances, the scorer is concerned with nothing else except getting his points tally as high as possible. VanVleet might’ve filled up the stat sheet unlike any Raptor before him, but he was not just focused on putting the ball in the basket. While Orlando didn’t have Aaron Gordon, VanVleet was able to lock down the weakened Magic.
VanVleet, who didn’t miss a single free throw in the entire game, was locked in on the defensive end, blocking three shots and recording three steals, all the while turning the ball over just one time in the entire game. VanVleet was as dialed in on both ends of the floor as possible, not giving up an ounce of effort on defense.
The Magic started out the game on an 11-0 run, and the Raptors could’ve completely folded after getting punched in the mouth early. Luckily, VanVleet was able to keep the squad unified and ready to mount a comeback, even if he provided an unorthodox amount of the scoring charge himself.