Category: NBA

GAME #38 – TORONTO RAPTORS (20-17) vs. PHOENIX SUNS (30-9)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2022 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – SCOTIABANK ARENA
TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN

• The Toronto Raptors (20-17) finish a three-game homestand (Jan. 7-11) Tuesday night when they host the Phoenix Suns (30-9) at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto begins a five-game road trip (Jan. 14-21) Friday night in
Detroit. The Suns swept the season-series in 2020-21. Prior to last season, the Raptors had won six in a row against Phoenix. Toronto is three games above .500 for the first time since opening the season 6-3.
• The NBA announced Monday that Fred VanVleet has been named as Eastern Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 3-9) for the first time in his career. VanVleet led the Raptors to a perfect 4-0 record, averaging 30.3 points (sixth in the NBA), 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 36.5 minutes. He shot .467 (42-90) from the field, .453 (24-53) from three-point range and was 13-for-13 at the free throw line. VanVleet scored 30+ points three times and recorded his first career triple-double with a season-best 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists Jan. 7 vs. Utah. His 37 points was the most scored in a triple-double in franchise history.
• The Raptors extended their winning streak to a season-high six games (Dec. 31 – Jan. 9) with a 105-101 win over New Orleans on Sunday. Fred VanVleet scored 32 points and Pascal Siakam had 29 points and
10 rebounds in the victory. The Raptors have now won five straight and 10 of their last 12 at home. Over the last six games, VanVleet and Siakam are averaging 31.2 and 23.7 points, respectively. VanVleet has
scored 30+ in five of the last six, while Siakam has recorded four double-doubles. The last time Toronto won seven in a row was March 3 – Aug. 5, 2020.
• Toronto outrebounded New Orleans 15-7 on the offensive glass Sunday night, leading to a 24-6 advantage in second-chance points for the Raptors. During the team’s six-game win streak, Toronto has outrebounded opponents 89-to-50 on the offensive end and hold a +30 turnover differential (73-to-103). The Raptors currently rank second in the NBA in both offensive rebounds (13.1) and second-chance points (16.8).
• Fred VanVleet has made at least four three-pointers in a franchise record eight consecutive games (Dec. 14 – Jan 9) – tied with Stephen Curry for the longest streak in the NBA this season. VanVleet is averaging 30.6 points and shooting .456 (47-103) from beyond the arc over the last eight games.
• Fred VanVleet (136) and Gary Trent Jr. (116) currently rank second and fourth, respectively, in the NBA in total deflections. VanVleet has led the NBA in deflections per game each of the past two seasons, while Trent Jr. also ranks fourth in the league in steals per game (1.91) and has recorded multiple steals in 20 games. The Raptors lead the NBA in deflections per game (18.9) and rank third in steals (9.2).
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – OG ANUNOBY #3

MIN: 35.8 REB: 5.2 AST: 2.4 STL: 1.6 TO: 1.5 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.0
• Finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 35 minutes of action Jan. 9 vs. New Orleans.
• The Raptors are 6-0 since Anunoby and VanVleet returned to the lineup Dec. 31 vs. the LA Clippers.
• Has scored in double figures in six straight games, averaging 18.3 points during this stretch.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 35.6 REB: 8.4 AST: 4.5 STL: 0.9 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 20.6
• Recorded 29 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 43 minutes Jan. 9 vs. New Orleans.
• Has recorded 5+ assists in a career-high seven straight games (Dec. 28 – Jan. 9); averaging 6.4 assists.
• Leads the team with eight double-doubles this season despite missing 13 games.
C – KHEM BIRCH #24

MIN: 21.6 REB: 5.3 AST: 1.2 STL: 0.9 TO: 0.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 6.0

• Contributed six points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in 21 minutes Jan. 9 vs. New Orleans.
• Has missed 14 games (Nov. 7-11, Nov. 24 – Dec. 18) this season with right knee swelling.
• Averaging 8.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 21.9 minutes in five games as a starter.
G – SCOTTIE BARNES #4

MIN: 35.5 REB: 8.0 AST: 3.5 STL: 1.0 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 14.7
• Tallied seven points, four rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of action Jan. 9 vs. New Orleans.
• Ranks second among rookies in rebounds (8.0), fourth in assists (3.5) and fifth in scoring (14.7).
• Averaging 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists through five games in January.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 37.5 REB: 5.0 AST: 6.7 STL: 1.7 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 22.0
• Scored a game-high 32 points Jan. 9 vs. New Orleans; added four rebounds and four assists in 39 minutes.
• The Raptors improved to 15-3, including 7-1 this season, when he scores 30 or more points.
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (37.5), has logged 40+ minutes seven times.

INJURY REPORT
Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out
Scottie Barnes (Right Knee; Soreness) – Questionable
Gary Trent Jr. (Left Ankle; Swelling) – Questionable

2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 20-17 12-11 8-6
HOME 12-10 6-7 6-3
AWAY 8-7 6-4 2-3
OVERTIME 0-1 0-1 0-0

NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Detroit Pistons
Date: Friday, January 14
Tip-Off: 7 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Little Caesars Arena
Television: TSN
Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto
SERIES RECAP VS. DETROIT
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2021-22 0-1 0-1 0-0
ALL-TIME 38-58 19-27 19-31
STREAKS Lost 4 Lost 2 Lost 2
LAST WIN: Jan. 31, 2020 (105-92)
LAST ROAD WIN: Jan. 31, 2020 (105-92)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +30 (Dec 23, 2009)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -44 (Jan. 4, 1997)
LAST TIME VS. DETROIT
GAME 14 – NOVEMBER 13, 2021
DETROIT 127, TORONTO 121
TORONTO — Jerami Grant scored 24 points, including two key three-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Detroit beat Toronto 127-121, handing
the Raptors their fourth loss in five games … Isaiah Stewart added 20 for
the Pistons, who’ve beaten Toronto in their last four meetings … Pascal
Siakam had 25 points and 12 rebounds in his third game back since missing the beginning of the season recovering from shoulder surgery … Gary
Trent Jr. had 23 points while OG Anunoby had 17 … Goran Dragic added
16, Dalano Banton finished with 12 and Scottie Barnes had 11 … Neither
team led by double digits through the first three quarters of the back-and-forth affair … Toronto took a 95-93 lead into the fourth … But the Raptors
fizzled in the fourth quarter, as Detroit hit five consecutive three-pointers –
two by Grant – that put the Pistons up 117-106 … The Raptors scored five
straight points to pull to within six … Siakam converted a three-point play
with 2:04 to play to slice the difference to just three … But Cade Cunningham shimmied to the hoop to make it a five-point game heading into the
final minute … The Raptors missed four shots on their next possession,
which all but ensured the loss … The Raptors were missing starting guard
Fred VanVleet (groin strain) and Precious Achiuwa (sore shoulder).
1 2 3 4 TOT
DETROIT 31 34 28 34 127
TORONTO 34 30 31 26 121

SUNS NOTES

Regular Season Game #40 | Road Game #18
Scotiabank Arena | Toronto, Canada
January 11, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. (Phoenix time)
RADIO: ESPN Phoenix 620 AM/KSUN-La Mejor | TV: Bally Sports Arizona
(20-17)

QUICKLY: With a win tonight, the Suns would move to 31-9 on the season in what would tie as the team’s best start in franchise history through the first 40 games of a season (31-8 start in three different seasons) … With a win tonight, the Suns would move to 16-9 all-time against the Raptors on the road, which would match their all-time home record against Toronto … Cam Johnson
extended his career-long streak to 19-straight games of scoring 10+ points Saturday and has made 2+ 3FG in 22-straight games, the longest streak in the NBA this season and the longest in franchise history … After shooting 13-for-13 from the charity stripe on Saturday, Devin Booker moved into sole
possession of third place on the Suns’ all-time free throw percentage list at 87.1 percent, sitting just ahead of Eddie Johnson (87.0 FT%) and trails only Steve Nash (90.7 FT%) and Kyle Macy (88.4 FT%).
LAST GAME’S STARTERS (2021-22 record when starting this lineup: 15-5)
F 25 MIKAL BRIDGES6-6 209
LAST GAME: Tallied 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting (4-of-7 3FG) and 6 rebounds vs. MIA
SEASON VS. TOR: Averaged 12.0 points and 5.5 rebounds in 2 games vs. TOR last season

• In 2020-21, posted 1 of just 4 seasons in NBA history shooting at least 54 FG% and 42 3P%
• … Only NBA player to not miss a game for any reason past 3 seasons entering 21-22
  F 99 JAE CROWDER 6-6 235
  LAST GAME: Returned to the court to score 3 points and grab 5 rebounds vs. MIA
  SEASON VS. TOR: Averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 3FG and 4.0 rebounds in 2 games vs. TOR
• Has scored 10+ points in a career-long 18-straight games and has made 2+ three-pointers
  in 21-straight games, the most in the NBA this season and a franchise record
  C 22 DEANDRE AYTON 6-11 250
  LAST GAME: Notched 12 points, 8 rebounds and a block vs. MIA on Saturday
  SEASON VS. TOR: In 2 games vs. TOR last season, averaged 15.0 pts on 70 FG% & 12.5 rebs
• Shot 65.8 FG% during 2021 Playoffs, the best FG% (min. 100 FGM) by a player in a single
  postseason in NBA history (prev. 62.2% by James Worthy in 1985)
  G 1 DEVIN BOOKER 6-5 206
  LAST GAME: Scored a team-high 26 points (13-for-13 FT) to go with 4 rebounds and 2 steals
  SEASON VS. TOR: Averaged 20.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 2 games vs. TOR last season
• Having notched 2,000 career assists earlier in the season, Booker became the seventh youngest player in NBA history to 10,000 career points on 12/29/21 vs. OKC
  G 3 CHRIS PAUL 6-1 175
  LAST GAME: Totaled 9 points and a team-high 7 assists Saturday against Miami
  SEASON VS. TOR: Averaged 15.5 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals in 2 games
• Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team, joined by Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash
  and Shaquille O’Neal as Suns players all-time selected to the team
  INJURIES/ROSTER NOTES
  Justin Jackson is not with team
  Cam Johnson (left ankle sprain) is out
  Frank Kaminsky (right knee stress reaction) is out; missed last 26 games
  Abdel Nader (right knee injury management is out); missed last 24 games
  Dario Šarić (right ACL rehab) is out; tore ACL in Game 1 of 2021 NBA Finals
  Landry Shamet (return to competition reconditioning) is probable; missed last 3 games
  Ish Wainright is in Health & Safety Protocols

• DEVIN BOOKER scored a team-high 26 points Saturday against the Heat to go along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals (matches
  season high, which he’s now done 10 times). Booker shot a perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line, just the fifth time in his career
  he’s shot 100 percent from the charity stripe with a minimum of 13 free throw attempts.
• After shooting 13-for-13 from the charity stripe on Saturday, DEVIN BOOKER moved into sole possession of third place on the Suns’
  all-time free throw percentage list at 87.1 percent. Booker currently sits just ahead of Eddie Johnson (87.0 FT%) and trails only Steve
  Nash (90.7 FT%) and Kyle Macy (88.4 FT%).
• CAM JOHNSON totaled 15 points Saturday to go along with 5 rebounds in 32 minutes off the bench. Johnson extended his careerlong streak to 19-straight games scoring 10+ points tonight. Additionally, with his second three, it marked his 22nd consecutive
  game with at least two three-point field goals, which is the longest streak in the NBA this season and a franchise record. After
  averaging 8.5 points on 40.5 FG% (38.7 3FG%) and 1.8 three-point field goals through the first 20 games of the season, Johnson is
  averaging 15.6 points on 49.8 FG% (47.4 3FG%) and 3.3 three-pointers over the last 19.
• After missing the last six games, DEANDRE AYTON returned to the starting lineup tonight, adding 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting and a team-high 8 rebounds, the 20th time this season he’s led the Suns in rebounding.
• With the loss Saturday, the Suns moved to 30-9 on the season, the team’s second-best start to a season through the first 39 games in franchise history trailing only the 2006-07, 2004-05, 1994-95, 1992-93 and 1980-81 seasons Suns, who all opened up the season 31-8.
  WINNING STREAK
• The Suns won 18 consecutive games after starting the season 1-3 this season, the team’s longest winning streak in franchise history.