
This turned out to be an incredibly deep draft class.
2022 PBT Awards: Rookie of the Year — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
This turned out to be an incredibly deep draft class.
2022 PBT Awards: Rookie of the Year — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
GAME #72 – TORONTO RAPTORS (40-31) at CHICAGO BULLS (41-29)
MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2022 – 8 P.M. (ET) – UNITED CENTER
TV: SPORTSNET – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
GARY TRENT OUT FOR TORONTO
INJURY REPORT AT 5:30 P.M. EDT
OR@CHI
Chicago Bulls
Ball, Lonzo Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Meniscus Tear
Cook, Tyler Out G League – Two-Way
Hill, Malcolm Out G League – Two-Way
Simonovic, Marko Out G League – On Assignment
Williams, Patrick Available –
Toronto Raptors
Anunoby, OG Out Injury/Illness – Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture
Bonga, Isaac Out G League – On Assignment
Champagnie, Justin Out G League – Two-Way
Flynn, Malachi Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain
Johnson, David Out G League – Two-Way
Trent Jr., Gary Out Injury/Illness – Left Foot; Big Toe – Hyperextended
• The Toronto Raptors (40-31) play the second game of a back-to-back set Monday night against the Chicago Bulls (41-29) at the United Center. The Raptors defeated Philadelphia 93-88 on Sunday night, overcoming a 16-point first-half deficit by holding the 76ers to an opponent season-low 34 second half points. Toronto sits 1.0 game behind Cleveland for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is 10-5 on the second night of a back-to-back set this season, after going just 3-13 last year.
• Toronto has won six consecutive road games (Mar. 9-20) for the first time since winning eight straight Mar. 3 – Aug. 12, 2020. During this stretch, the Raptors are averaging 112.2 points while holding opponents to
103.7 points. Pascal Siakam is averaging a team-high 27.0 points over the last six road games.
• Precious Achiuwa recorded a season high-tying 21 points and nine rebounds Mar. 20 at Philadelphia. Achiuwa has now scored in double figures in a career-high seven straight games (Mar. 9-20), averaging 14.1 points. He is shooting .506 (39-77) from the field and .452 (14-31) from beyond the arc during this
stretch. Achiuwa is shooting .367 (40-109) from three-point range this season after attempting just one three-pointer last season with Miami.
• Toronto outrebounded Philadelphia 56-to-40, including 20-5 on the offensive end, Sunday night. The Raptors (13.5) currently rank second in the NBA in offensive boards and have a +69 (172-103) advantage on
the offensive glass through 11 games in March. The Raptors are 4-1 this season when the team collects 0-or-more offensive rebounds in a game.
• Pascal Siakam is averaging 22.0 points, and career bests of 8.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in 58 games this season. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Dejounte Murray
and Julius Randle. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 over the course of an entire season.
• Chris Boucher had 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds in 39 minutes off the bench Sunday night in Philadelphia. This marks Boucher’s seventh double-double of the season. He has led the bench in scoring a team-best 26 times this year and holds the franchise record for double-doubles as a reserve with 21.
• Pascal Siakam finished with his team-leading 24th double-double of the season with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists Mar. 20 in Philadelphia. Siakam reached 6,000 career points against the Sixers, becoming just the seventh Raptor to reach the milestone. Sunday also marked his 12th game this season with 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists – a single-season franchise record.
• Scottie Barnes has scored 20+ points 17 times this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Vince Carter did it 23 times during the 1998-99 season.
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.8 REB: 7.7 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 15.5
• Finished with 13 points, six rebounds and four assists in 36 minutes Mar. 20 at Philadelphia.
• Leads all rookies in minutes (35.8), ranks third in scoring (15.5) and rebounds (7.7), and fourth in assists (3.4).
• Averaging 19.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and has scored 20+ points in eight-of-14 games since the All-star break.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 37.7 REB: 8.4 AST: 5.1 STL: 1.2 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 22.0
• Finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes Mar. 20 at Philadelphia.
• Leads the Raptors with a career-best 24 double-doubles this season.
• Averaging 25.7 points and shooting .505 (105-208) from the field through 11 games in March.
C – KHEM BIRCH #24
MIN: 18.4 REB: 4.5 AST: 1.0 STL: 0.6 TO: 0.5 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 4.6
• Contributed four points and six rebounds in 22 minutes Sunday in Philadelphia.
• Has scored in double figures four times this season (Last: 11 – Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn).
• Averaging 5.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 18.8 minutes in 20 games as a starter this season.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.8 REB: 2.8 AST: 2.1 STL: 1.8 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.
• Tallied nine points, three assists, two rebounds and one steal in 34 minutes Mar. 20 at Philadelphia.
• Ranks third in the NBA in both steals (1.79) and total deflections (221).
• Averaging 20.1 points and shooting .394 (108-274) from beyond the arc in 33 road games this season.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 38.2 REB: 4.6 AST: 6.7 STL: 1.6 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 21.1
• Inactive Mar. 20 at Philadelphia for right knee injury management.
• Leads the NBA in minutes (38.2), ranks second in deflections (222) and third in three-pointers (220).
• Needs 18 three-pointers to tie Kyle Lowry’s single-season franchise record of 238 made threes (2017-18).
TS: 18.
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 40-31 24-19 16-12
HOME 17-16 11-9 6-7
AWAY 23-15 13-10 10-5
OVERTIME 2-2 2-1 0-1
GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Chicago Bulls
Date: Monday, March 21
Tip-Off: 8 p.m. (ET)
Venue: United Center
Television: TSN
Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto
SERIES RECAP VS. CHICAGO
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2021-22 1-2 1-1 0-1
ALL-TIME 45-53 24-25 21-28
STREAKS Won 1 Won 1 Lost 3
LAST WIN: Feb. 3, 2022 (127-100 OT)
LAST ROAD WIN: Dec. 9, 2019 (93-92)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +39 (Nov. 17, 2018)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -37 (Feb. 19, 1998)
LAST TIME VS. CHICAGO
GAME 50 – FEBRUARY 3, 2022
TORONTO 127, CHICAGO 120 (OT)
TORONTO — Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Boucher added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat the
Chicago Bulls 127-120 in overtime … Scottie Barnes scored 21 points,
including the go-ahead basket with 1:44 left in OT, and Gary Trent Jr.
added a decisive 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining … Trent scored 16
points, ending his career-best streak of 30-point games at five … Fred
VanVleet and OG Anunoby each scored 21 as Toronto won its fourth
straight overall … Toronto finished with 113 field goal attempts, while the
Bulls had 90 … The Raptors also had 22 offensive rebounds, compared to
10 for Chicago … Chicago committed 17 turnovers, leading to 22 points
for the Raptors … Vucevic matched his season high with 30 points and
had 18 rebounds, his ninth double-double in 10 games … DeMar
DeRozan scored 28 points against his former team … Coby White had 16
points, LaVine had 15, Javonte Green 13 and Ayo Dosunmu 11 for the
Bulls, who came in as the Eastern Conference leaders … The Raptors led
103-93 after VanVleet’s 3 with 5:50 to go in regulation, but DeRozan tied it
at 112 on a jump shot with 47 seconds left, capping a personal six-point
run … VanVleet came up empty on a driving shot attempt at the other end,
but Barnes tipped in the missed shot to tie it with 0.7 seconds left …
Vucevic got a final shot off, but didn’t come close.
1 2 3 4 OT TOT
CHICAGO 24 26 31 33 6 120
TORONTO 26 28 33 27 13 127
NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Cleveland Cavaliers
Date: Thursday, March 24
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. CLEVELAND
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2021-22 0-3 0-1 0-2
ALL-TIME 46-53 26-23 20-30
STREAKS Lost 3 Lost 1 Lost 2
LAST WIN: Apr. 26, 2021 (112-96)
LAST HOME WIN: Apr. 26, 2021 (112-96)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +34 (Jan. 11, 2018)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -45 (Dec. 26, 2021)
LAST TIME VS. CLEVELAND
GAME 64 – MARCH 6, 2022
CLEVELAND 104, TORONTO 96
CLEVELAND — Evan Mobley had 20 points and 17 rebounds, Lauri
Markkanen scored 22, and the Cavaliers beat the Raptors 104-96 … All-Star center Jarrett Allen reportedly suffered a fractured finger during the
first quarter … Allen had six points and two rebounds in 10 minutes …
Darius Garland had 17 points and 10 assists, Cedi Osman added 17
points and Kevin Love 15 as Cleveland improved to 3-0 against Toronto
… Pascal Siakam scored 24 points and Chris Boucher 21 for the Raptors,
who opened a six-game road trip without All-Star guard Fred VanVleet
(knee soreness) or forward OG Anunoby (fractured finger) … Down 18 in
the fourth, the Raptors closed within 100-95, but Garland made two free
throws and Osman’s steal with 56 seconds left helped seal it for the Cavs
… Injuries to VanVleet and backup Malachi Flynn led to Toronto coach
Nick Nurse starting rookie Scottie Barnes at point guard … He finished
with 19 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in 42 minutes … Cleveland led
by 13 at halftime and then overcame a brutal third quarter — 16 points, 1
of 10 on 3-pointers — by opening an 82-64 lead early in the fourth …
Love then hit a 3-pointer and reserve Dean Wade delivered a thunderous
dunk over Toronto’s Khem Birch … The Raptors finished 6 of 24 on 3-
pointers. … VanVleet has missed the past five games.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 29 17 16 34 96
CLEVELAND 30 29 14 31 104
BACK-TO-BACKS (17)
FIRST GAME SECOND GAME
DATE OPP RESULT DATE OPP RESULT
Oct. 22 @BOS W 115-83 Oct. 23 DAL L 103-95
Oct. 29 ORL W 110-109 Oct. 30 @IND W 97-94
Nov. 10 @BOS L 104-88 Nov. 11 @PHI W 115-109
Nov. 18 @UTA L 119-103 Nov. 19 @SAC W 108-89
Dec. 13 SAC W 124-101 Dec. 14 @BKN L 131-129 (OT)
Jan. 4 SAS W 129-104 Jan. 5 @MIL W 117-111
Jan. 14 @DET L 103-87 Jan. 15 @MIL W 103-96
Jan. 25 CHA W 125-113 Jan. 26 @CHI L 111-105
Jan. 31 @ATL W 106-100 Feb. 1 MIA W 110-106
Feb. 3 CHI W 127-120 (OT) Feb. 4 ATL W 125-114
Feb. 9 @OKC W 117-98 Feb. 10 @HOU W 139-120
Feb. 25 @CHA L 125-93 Feb. 26 @ATL L 127-100
Feb. 28 @BKN W 133-97 Mar. 1 BKN W 109-108
Mar. 3 DET L 108-106 Mar. 4 ORL L 103-97
Mar. 11 @PHX W 117-112 Mar. 12 @DEN W 127-115
Mar. 20 @PHI W 93-88 Mar. 21 @CHI
Apr. 7 PHI Apr. 8 HOU
RECORD: 11-5 (.688) RECORD: 10-5 (.667)
2020-21 RECORD: 7-9 (.438) 2020-21 RECORD: 3-13 (.188)
SEASON SERIES
Atlanta Hawks 2-1 Miami Heat 2-1
Boston Celtics 1-2 Milwaukee Bucks 3-0
Brooklyn Nets 2-2 Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0
Charlotte Hornets 2-1 New Orleans Pelicans 1-1
Chicago Bulls 1-2 New York Knicks 3-0
Cleveland Cavaliers 0-3 Oklahoma City 1-1
Dallas Mavericks 0-2 Orlando Magic 1-1
Denver Nuggets 1-1 Philadelphia 76ers 2-1
Detroit Pistons 0-3 Phoenix Suns 1-1
Golden State Warriors 1-1 Portland Trail Blazers 0-2
Houston Rockets 1-0 Sacramento Kings 2-0
Indiana Pacers 2-1 San Antonio Spurs 2-0
Los Angeles Clippers 2-0 Utah Jazz 1-1
Los Angeles Lakers 1-1 Washington Wizards 3-1
Memphis Grizzlies 1-1
Largest comeback by Toronto: 17 – Jan. 7 vs. Utah
Largest fourth quarter comeback by Toronto: 8 (2X last: Mar. 12 at Denver)
Largest comeback by opponent: 15 – Nov. 5 vs. Cleveland
Largest fourth quarter comeback by opponent: 9 – Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT)
TORONTO RAPTORS (40-31) @ CHICAGO BULLS (41-29)
Game 71, Home Game 36
Monday, March 21, 2022 – 7:00 PM CT
United Center
NBC SPORTS CHICAGO / WSCR-AM 670 / WRTO 1200, TUDN
PROB-A-BULL STARTERS
Pos. No. Name Ht. Wt. Player Updates
F 24 JAVONTE GREEN 6-5 205
2021-22 Season: 7.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 24.1 mpg, .542 FG%, .381 3FG%, .831 FT%
Career vs. TOR: 9 games, 5.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 0.7 apg, 11.7 mpg, .548 FG%, .375 3FG%, .769 FT%
Note: Has started a career-best 41 times after making a combined total of four over two previous seasons.
F 11 DeMAR DeROZAN 6-6 220
2021-22 Season: 27.8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 5.1 apg, 36.0 mpg, .503 FG%, .353 3FG%, .871 FT%
Career vs. TOR: 9 games, 23.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 7.7 apg, 36.5 mpg, .504 FG%, .429 3FG%, .914 FT%
Note: Averaging career-highs in scoring (27.8), FG% (.503) and 3FG% (.353).
C 9 NIKOLA VUČEVIĆ 6-11 260
2021-22 Season: 17.9 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.0 bpg, 33.5 mpg, .474 FG%, .302 3FG%, .752 FT%
Career vs. TOR: 36 games, 15.2 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 29.8 mpg, .481 FG%, .386 3FG%, .700 FT%
Note: Ranks 5th in the NBA with 40 double-doubles; has posted 15 double-doubles in his last 21 games.
G 8 ZACH LaVINE 6-5 202
2021-22 Season: 24.5 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.6 apg, 34.7 mpg, .480 FG%, .395 3FG%, .860 FT%
Career vs. TOR: 16 games, 16.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 34.0 mpg, .433 FG%, .295 3FG%, .779 FT%
Note: Has scored in double-figures in 159 of of his last 160 games.
G 12 AYO DOSUNMU 6-5 200
2021-22 Season: 8.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.2 apg, 27.0 mpg, .521 FG%, .390 3FG%, .672 FT%
Career vs. TOR: 2 games, 9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 6.0 apg, 40.2 mpg, .364 FG%, .111 3FG%, .500 FT%
Note: Has shot .500+ FG% and .400+ 3FG% in the same game 23 times, 2nd most by a rookie this season.
TONIGHT’S OPPONENT – TORONTO RAPTORS (40-31)
SERIES SUMMARY
The third matchup between Toronto and Chicago came down to the wire, as the Raptors emerged with a 127-120 victory in a game that saw the Bulls go into overtime for the first time in 2021/22 … They were led by Nikola Vučević, who scored a game-high 30 points, shooting 13-21 from the floor and 4-6 from three … Behind Vučević was DeMar DeRozan, who had 28 points,
seven rebounds and a pair of steals … He also shot 7-17 from the floor and a perfect 14-14 from the stripe … All five Bulls’ starters finished in double-figures, as Javonte Green scored 13, Zach LaVine had 15 while Ayo Dosunmu finished with 11 points … Coby White added 16 points off the bench … Toronto had four of five starters finish with 20+ points, led by Pascal Siakam, who finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds … Rookie Scottie Barnes had 21 points, including a go-ahead bucket with under two minutes left in the game, and Gary Trent Jr. scored 16 points including a three to finish the game off … in the
second meeting, the Bulls came away with a 111-105 victory at the United Center giving Chicago five straight wins over the Raptors …DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 29 points while Zach LaVine added 23 on 9-of-16 shooting while gathering eight rebounds and dishing eight assists … Nikola Vučević also enjoyed his most efficient outing of the season, hitting 8-of-11 (.727)
from the floor, finishing with 17 points and a game-high 15 rebounds … Chicago ended up with a season-best 68 points in the paint … Gary Trent Jr. led the charge for the Raptors, matching a season-high with 32 points, fueled by going 6-of-10 from three and 4-of 5 from the line … this contest was the
first of two make-up games between the Bulls and the Raptors, as two previously scheduled games had to be rescheduled after a number of players on both teams were sidelined due to NBA health and safety protocols … in the series opener, Chicago pulled away late in the fourth quarter to post a 111-108 victory … DeMar DeRozan notched team-best 26 points for the Bulls, including scoring 11 in the final stanza, while Zach LaVine added 22 points … Toronto’s Fred VanVleet scored 15 points and set a career high with 17 assists … Precious Achiuwa also had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors, while rookie Scottie Barnes scored 13 points.
Breakdown Overall Home Road Neutral
All-Time Record 53-45 (.541) 28-21 (.571) 25-24 (.510) 0-0 (.000)
2021-22 SERIES (2-1)
CHI STAT TOR
112.0 PPG 108.8
111.2 OPP PPG 107.3
.481 FG% .443
.469 OPP FG% .462
.372 3FG% .351
.365 OPP 3FG% .352
.816 FT% .752
42.8 RPG 45.4
43.2 OPP RPG 44.2
24.1 APG 21.8
7.2 SPG 8.9
12.9 TO 12.6
13.2 OPP TO 15.9
4.3 BLK 4.6
BULLS/RAPTORS STREAKS
CURRENT STREAK – 1 Loss
HOME STREAK – 3 Wins
ROAD STREAK – 1 Loss
BULLS VS. RAPTORS THIS SEASON
Oct. 25 @ TOR – W 111-108
Jan. 26 @ CHI – W 111-105
Feb. 03 @ TOR – L 120-127 (OT)
Mar. 21 @ CHI
BULLS NEXT OPPONENT – MILWAUKEE BUCKS (44-27)
BULLS/BUCKS STREAKS
CURRENT STREAK – 2 Losses
HOME STREAK – 1 Loss
ROAD STREAK – 6 Losses
SERIES SUMMARY
The Bulls fell to the Bucks 112-118 at the United Center in the second of four games between the two teams to give Milwaukee
their third straight win … Zach LaVine led the team in scoring for the 22nd time this season with a team-high 30 points on 13-
26 from the floor … LaVine also recorded eight rebounds and six assists … DeMar DeRozan finished right behind him with 29
points… Nikola Vučević had 19 points and a team-high nine rebounds, while Javonte Green had nine points off the bench …
The Bucks were agin led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had a game-high 34 points, going 12-22 from the floor and 10-19
from the free-throw line … Milwaukee shot 33 free-throws, going 22-33 (.667) from the stripe, which is the most by a Bulls
opponent this season. The first matchup of the four-game season-series between Chicago and Milwaukee saw the Bucks
come away with a 94-90 victory at the Fiserv Forum … it was Chicago’s sixth straight loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee … the
Bucks were led by NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who scored a team-high 30 points while also recording 12
rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks … Antetokounmpo was one of three Milwaukee starters with double-digit
rebounding figures …Khris Middleton had a double-double with 16 points and 10 boards, while Bobby Portis had 12 points
and a team-best 13 rebounds … Jrue Holiday came off the bench and had 13 points and four rebounds over 27 minutes… DeMar DeRozan scored a game-high 35 points for
the Bulls … Nikola Vučević was the second-highest scorer for Chicago, finishing with 19 points while also pulling down a team-best 11 boards … Matt Thomas came off the
bench and matched a season-high with a trio of three-pointers, going 3-5 from deep and finishing with 11 points in 19 minutes played … The Bulls, however, struggled on the
offensive end overall, finishing the game at a 31-85 (.365) clip and 7-38 (.184) from three, both of which are season-lows.
CHI STAT TOR
112.0 PPG 108.8
111.2 OPP PPG 107.3
.481 FG% .443
.469 OPP FG% .462
.372 3FG% .351
.365 OPP 3FG% .352
.816 FT% .752
42.8 RPG 45.4
43.2 OPP RPG 44.2
24.1 APG 21.8
7.2 SPG 8.9
12.9 TO 12.6
13.2 OPP TO 15.9
4.3 BLK 4.6
BULLS/RAPTORS STREAKS
CURRENT STREAK – 1 Loss
HOME STREAK – 3 Wins
ROAD STREAK – 1 Loss
BULLS VS. RAPTORS THIS SEASON
Oct. 25 @ TOR – W 111-108
Jan. 26 @ CHI – W 111-105
Feb. 03 @ TOR – L 120-127 (OT)
Mar. 21 @ CHI —
TEAM NOTE-A-BULLS
At 41-29 (.586), Chicago sits 5th in the East, 2.0 games behind Boston (44-28 .611) for 4th, and Philadelphia (43-27 .614) for 3rd in the conference.
The Bulls and Brooklyn have both shot .900+ from the free-throw line 14 times, ranking 2nd behind Phoenix with 16.
The Bulls have hit 20+ free-throws while shooting .850+ from the stripe 13 times, ranking 3rd behind Philadelphia (15) and Atlanta (14).
The Bulls, Brooklyn and Denver are the only teams to shoot .600+ from the floor twice this season. Five others have done it once.
The Bulls have also shot .500+ from the field 26 times, ranking 3rd behind Phoenix (32) and Denver (28). The Bulls are 22-4 (.846) in those contests.
The Bulls have also shot .500+ from the field and .450+ from the 3-point arc 14 times, as well as .400+ from deep 20 times. Both rank No. 1 in the NBA.
The Bulls are 32-8 (.800) when outshooting an opponent; 22-5 (.815) when they hit more 3s; 18-5 (.783) when they hand out more assists; and 40-18 (.690)
when two or more players score 20+ points.
The Bulls have dished 30+ assists 17 times, ranking 6th in the league.
The Bulls have scored 130+ points 8 times this season, the 3rd-most in franchise history. The 1969-70 team had 11 games while the inaugural squad from
1966-67 recorded 10 games of 130+ points.
The Bulls have posted 70+ points by halftime four times, and in the second half three times this season. Last year, they were able to accomplish this just
twice in the opening half and once in the second over a total of 72 games played.
PLAYER NOTE-A-BULLS
ZACH LaVINE hit his 1,000th career (and 700th as a Bull) 3-pointer at Sacramento (3/14). He currently ranks 3rd in franchise history with 706.
DeMAR DeROZAN knocked down his 7,000th career shot vs. Cleveland (3/12).
NIKOLA VUČEVIĆ notched his 40th double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds at Utah (3/16). He currently ranks 5th in the league.
With his fifth (and final) assist at Atlanta (3/3), VUČEVIĆ recorded the 2,000th helper of his career. He currently has dished a total of 2,008, ranking 16th all-time and 1st among active NBA pivotmen.
LaVINE (1,114) passed DAVE CORZINE (1,112) for 20th on the Bulls All-Time assists list with four helpers at Miami (2/28).
DeROZAN recorded a 10th straight 30+ point game with 31 vs. Memphis (2/26), establishing a new personal best and tying franchise icon MICHAEL
JORDAN for the second-longest mark in Bulls’ history. Jordan also holds the team record with 11 straight 30+ point games set during the 1986-87 season.
DeROZAN has attempted double-digit free throws 20 times, and connected in double-digits 14 times, placing him 5th and 4th in the league, respectively.
DeROZAN is the only Bulls player to score 40+ points in a game, something he’s done three times this season. In total, a player has scored 40+ 93 times
this year, but only four games have happened without the player making a 3-point shot – three by DeRozan: 40 points vs. San Antonio (2/14), 45 points vs.
Philadelphia (2/6) and 41 points at Orlando (1/23).
LaVINE (6,218) moved in front of JIMMY BUTLER (6,208) for 14th on the Bulls’ All-Time scoring list after posting 28 points vs. Memphis (2/26).
LaVINE also surpassed 9,000 career points after notching 20 vs. Atlanta (2/24).
WHITE knocked down his 400th career trey in his 178th game vs. Milwaukee (3/4), and later tied ANDRÉS NOCIONI’s tally of 403 at Philadelphia (3/7)
after connecting three more times from deep. He’s currently 9th on the Bulls’ all-time 3-point list with a total of 413.
AYO DOSUNMU has shot .500+ from the floor and .400+ from deep in the same game 23 times, ranking 2nd among all rookies behind Orlando’s FRANZ
WAGNER’s 24.
DeROZAN ranks 2nd behind Denver’s NIKOLA JOKIĆ (57) in 20+-point games this season with 56, while LaVINE is tied for 8th along with LA’s LeBRON
JAMES and Philadelphia’s JOEL EMBIID with 48. The Chicago duo are also two of only 10 players in the league (and the only teammates) to score 20+-
points at least 48 times this season, and in the same game an NBA-best 37 times. They have also scored at least 25 points apiece in the same game an
NBA-best 22 times, which is also the most in Bulls’ history. Lastly, DeROZAN (24x) and LaVINE (15x) are also the only teammates to score 30+-points at
least a 15 times this season.
When it comes to scoring down the stretch, Chicago’s 1-2 punch are two of the best in the business. DeROZAN ranks 1st in 4th-quarter scoring with 535
points while LaVINE is 13th with 316 points.
REMAINING 2021-22 NBA KEY DATES
Mar. 1 Playoff Eligibility Waiver Deadline
Apr. 12-15 NBA Play-In Tournament
Apr. 11 Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2022 (3 p.m. ET)
Apr. 16 NBA Playoffs 2022 begin
May 2-3 Conference Semifinals begin (possible move up to
April 30 / May 1)
May 17 NBA Draft Lottery 2022 presented by State Farm
May 17-18 Conference Finals begin (possible move up to May
15-16)
June 2 NBA Finals 2022 begin
DEEBO & FLIGHT 8 = ALL-NBA: The pairing of DeMAR DeROZAN and ZACH LaVINE has seamlessly formed into one of the most dynamic offensive duos in the
league, with each making strong cases for All-NBA recognition. DeRozan, who was named a starter for the third time for the NBA All-Star Game in February (his 5th
ASG overall), was a 2018 All-NBA Second Team player and a 2017 All-NBA Third Team member. LaVine, who was named to his second consecutive All-Star team
this season, has continued to develop his overall game, proving night in and night out to be one of the league’s most efficient and versatile scorers, as well as a pretty
formidable defender. Below are some of the hightlights each player has delivered in bringing the Chicago Bulls back to prominence this season.
DeRozan
LaVine
WHAT ROOKIE WALL? One of the other keys to success for the Bulls in 2021-22 has been the development of rookie guard AYO DOSUNMU, whose recent play
has put him in contention for the NBA All-Rookie Team. In 31 games as a starter, Dosunmu has averaged 36.1 mpg, 11.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.8 assists with only
1.9 turnovers while shooting .530 from the field, .375 from three and .788 from the free throw line.
o Has shot .500 or better from the field and .400 or better from deep in the same game an 23 times, 2nd best among all rookies.
o Ranks 2nd among all rookies with seven 40+ minute games.
o Currently has .590 effective field goal percentage (eFG%), which is the highest in the league among all rookies (min: 50 games).
o As his role expanded, his performance on the court improved, too. Dosunmu’s minutes, points, and assists per game have all increased throughout every
month of the season:
Month GS MPG PPG APG
October/November 0 15.7 5.8 0.8
December 2 25.6 7.5 2.1
January 9 32.2 10.0 4.1
February 12 36.6 10.8 6.5
March 8 33.2 10.6 4.3
DIALING LONG DISTANCE: Both ZACH LaVINE and COBY WHITE are quickly rising to the top of the Bulls’ All-Time 3-point list. In the fourth game of the season
(and his 209th as a Bull), LaVine knocked down three treys at Toronto (10/25/21) to pass franchise icon MICHAEL JORDAN (555) for the No. 4 spot in franchise
history. He later moved ahead of another Bulls’ Hall of Famer, SCOTTIE PIPPEN (664), for No. 3 after hitting three more long shots vs. Portland (1/30/22).
As for White, he jumped ahead of LUOL DENG for 10th after going 6-for-11 from downtown vs. Sacramento (2/16). The third-year guard, who missed the first 14
games of the season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, started the year with 296 3-balls, good for 18th on the all-time list.
HOT SAUCIN’: Although the Bulls haven’t taken a lot of 3s this season, when they do their aim has been true, as they’ve consistently ranked near
the top of the NBA in three-point shooting
percentage. The table on the right lists the Bulls’
leading long-distance shooters this season. It
shows the number of games each has played, the
number of 3s they’ve made and the number of
games in which they’ve hit multiple 3s.
o Was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, and the Eastern Conference Player of the Week three times this season.
o Has scored in double figures in every appearance (66) and ranks 2nd in the NBA with 56 20+ point games this season.
o One of only seven in the league to average 25.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.
o He’s the only player to average over 25.0 ppg while making less than 1.0 3-pointer per game.
o His 535 4th quarter points leads the NBA, while his 129 clutch points ranks 2nd. He’s also shooting .514 from the field, .667 from 3 and .879 from the free
throw line in the clutch … his two made 3-pointers in clutch time were buzzer-beaters to win games on consecutive days (12/31 at IND and 1/1 at WAS).
o DeRozan is converting an NBA-best 4.7 shots from mid-range on 9.7 attempts per game, both of which are the highest averages in the NBA. No other player in
the league is currently averaging more than 4.0 made field goals or more than 7.2 attempts from that area.
o DeRozan’s rankings: Per StatHead
o PPG: 27.8, 6th overall
o FGM/game: 10.1, 4th overall
o FTM/game: 6.9, 4th overall
o Has posted 48 20+ point games, tying him for 8th in the NBA. He’s also recorded 15 30+ point games.
o Has 8 games with 10+ field goals and 5+ treys while also shooting at least .500 from the floor, tying him for 5th in the NBA.
o His 89 clutch points ranks 10th in the league.
o Scored in double figures in 140 consecutive games prior to exiting early with a knee injury (1/22). That was also the second-longest streak in the league over
that stretch. In 19 appearances upon returning to the floor, he’s continued to post double-figure scoring nights, running his personal streak to 159 out of his last
160 games.
o Holds the highest field goal percentage in the league in catch-and-shoot situations at .473 (min: 50 GP, 30 MIN/G).
o LaVine’s rankings: Per StatHead
o PPG: 24.5, 14th overall
o FGM/game: 8.6, 13th overall
o FTM/game: 4.5, T-13th overall
o 3PM/game: 2.8, T-11th overa
Evan Mobley, Scottie Barnes, Franz Wagner or…?
Mid-season awards: Rookie of the Year — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports
07:30 (ET) GSW@TOR INJURY REPORT AT 6:30 P.M. SATURDAY
Golden State Warriors
Curry, Stephen Out Rest
Green, Draymond Out Injury/Illness – Right Hip; Tightness
Iguodala, Andre Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Injury Management
Poole, Jordan Out Health and Safety Protocols
Porter Jr., Otto Out Injury/Illness – Left Foot; Injury Management
Thompson, Klay Out Injury/Illness – Right Achilles Tendon; Injury Recovery
Wiggins, Andrew Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; Soreness
Wiseman, James Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Injury Recovery
Toronto Raptors
Achiuwa, Precious Available Injury/Illness – Right Shoulder; Tendinitis
Anunoby, OG Available Injury/Illness – Left Hip; Pointer
Banton, Dalano Out Health and Safety Protocols
Birch, Khem Out Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Swelling
Dragic, Goran Out Not With Team
Johnson, David Out Injury/Illness – Left Calf; Strain
Siakam, Pascal Out Health and Safety Protocols
Josh Lewenberg@JLew1050·The Raptors will start VanVleet, Trent, Barnes, Anunoby and Boucher vs Golden State tonight. Siakam and Banton are in the protocols. Birch still out, likely back on Monday. Achiuwa available off the bench.
GAME #29 – TORONTO RAPTORS (13-15) vs. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (24-5)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – SCOTIABANK ARENA
TV: TSN – RADIO: TSN 1050 TORONTO
• The Toronto Raptors (13-15) host the Golden State Warriors (24-5) on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Warriors make their first trip north of the border since Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. Toronto is 4-2 in December after falling 131-129 in overtime Tuesday night at Brooklyn. Fred VanVleet
led the Raptors with 31 points, Gary Trent Jr. and Pascal Siakam each finished with 25 and Scottie Barnes had 23 for the Raptors. VanVleet scored 30+ points for the 13th time in his career, and third time this season, against the Nets.
• Scottie Barnes tallied 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in a career-high 44 minutes Tuesday night at Brooklyn. Barnes became the youngest player in Raptors franchise history with a 20/10/5 game, overtaking Tracy McGrady. Barnes currently ranks second among rookies in scoring (15.4), leads in rebounds (8.3) and minutes (36.2), and is third with a .488 (162-332) field goal percentage.
• Pascal Siakam has scored 16+ points in 11 of the last 12 games (Nov. 19 – Dec. 14). Siakam is averaging a team-high 21.1 points and 8.1 rebounds during this stretch. He is shooting .485 (99-204) from the field and .302 (13-43) from beyond the arc over the last 12 contests.
• Gray Trent Jr. scored 25 points and made a season-high six three-pointers (6-12 3PT) Tuesday at Brooklyn. Trent Jr. made six-plus threes for the 12th time in his career and fourth time since joining the Raptors
at the trade deadline last season. Trent Jr. is shooting .413 (19-46) from three-point range in December.
• Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. are tied for second in the NBA with 100 deflections apiece this season. VanVleet has led the league in deflections per game each of the past two seasons. Trent Jr. also ranks
second in the NBA in steals per game (2.12) and has recorded multiple steals in 17 games. The Raptors lead the NBA in deflections per game (19.3) and are tied for third in steals (9.0) this season.
• As announced by the province, capacities for events at MLSE venues, including Maple Leaf and Raptors games at Scotiabank Arena, will be reduced to 50 per cent capacities effective Saturday as we all work together to prioritize public health with increasing COVID-19 cases in Ontario.
• Goran Dragic is currently taking time away from the team for a personal matter. There is no definite timeline, and updates will be provided as appropriate. Dragic is averaging 8.0 points in five games this season.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 36.2 REB: 8.3 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.9 BLK: 1.0 PTS: 15.4
• Recorded 23 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in 44 minutes Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT).
• Has scored in double figures in 11 straight games (Nov. 21 – Dec. 14), averaging 16.1 points during this stretch.
• Leads the Raptors with five double-doubles, including two in the last three games.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 34.4 REB: 7.6 AST: 3.7 STL: 0.7 TO: 2.2 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 19.1
• Finished with 25 points, six rebounds and two assists in 44 minutes Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT).
• Averaging 21.3 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists through six games in December.
• Has scored 20+ points in five of the last seven games (Nov. 30 – Dec. 14), averaging 21.1 points.
.
C – CHRIS BOUCHER #25
MIN: 15.6 REB: 4.5 AST: 0.3 STL: 0.4 TO: 0.7 BLK: 0.9 PTS: 7.3
• Tallied nine points and nine rebounds in a season-high 32 minutes of action Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT).
• Scored in double digits in four straight games (Dec. 5-13), averaged 14.0 points during this span.
• In four starts this season, averaging 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 25.9 minutes.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.8 REB: 3.2 AST: 2.0 STL: 2.1 TO: 0.9 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 17.0
• Contributed 25 points and a season-high five assists in 42 minutes Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT).
• Ranks second in the NBA in steals per game (2.12); has recorded three steals in each of the last three games.
• Has scored 20+ points 10 times; something he did 15 times in 58 games last season.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 38.0 REB: 5.0 AST: 6.5 STL: 1.6 TO: 3.1 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 19.8
• Scored 31 points in a career-high 47 minutes Dec. 14 at Brooklyn (OT); added four rebounds and nine assists.
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.0), has logged 40+ minutes in seven games.
• Has scored in double digits in all 27 of his games played this season, including 20+ points 11 times.
INJURY REPORT
Precious Achiuwa (Right Shoulder; Tendinitis) – Questionable
OG Anunoby (Left Hip; Pointer) – Questionable
Khem Birch (Right Knee; Swelling) – Questionable
Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out
David Johnson (Left Calf; Strain) – Out
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 13-15 10-9 3-6
HOME 6-9 5-6 1-3
AWAY 7-6 5-3 2-3
OVERTIME 0-1 0-1 0-0
WARRIORS NOTES
The Warriors, with the best record in the NBA (24-5, .828), conclude their five-game road
trip, tied for their longest road trip of the season. They have another five-game road trip in late March.
The Warriors have won their last three games, all on the road. Stephen Curry became the NBA’s all-time
leader in 3-pointers, passing Ray Allen (2,973) on December 14, 2021 at New York. The Warriors are the
only team in the NBA this season that has not allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent-or-better from the
field. Dating back to last season, Golden State has a streak of 31 consecutive games without allowing an
opponent to shoot 50 percent from the field, tied for the fifth-longest such streak in franchise history. It’s
the longest such streak since a 36-consecutive game streak (3/14/17-11/25/17)
UPCOMING/CONTINUING MILESTONES
• Stephen Curry has made at least one 3-pointer in 153 consecutive games, the league’s longest active
streak and now the second-longest streak in NBA history after having passed Kyle Korver (127).
Curry, who holds the all-time NBA record of 157 games (11/13/14-11/3/16), is the only player with two
100-plus streaks. The current streak began on Dec. 1, 2018.
• Andre Iguodala is one field goal away from 5,000 career.
AS OF LATE… (CURRENT TEAM/PLAYER STREAKS)
• The Warriors are the only team in the NBA this season that has not allowed an opponent to shoot 50
percent-or-better from the field. Dating back to last season, Golden State has a streak of 31 consecutive
games without allowing an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the field, tied for the fifth-longest such
streak in franchise history (2/16/65-11/12/65). It’s the longest such streak since a 36-consecutive game
streak (3/14/17-11/25/17).
TONIGHT’S NOTES
• Tonight’s game at Toronto concludes the Warriors’ five-game road trip, tied for the longest road trip of the season, as the Warriors have another five-game road trip in March. Tonight’s game also concludes the regular season series against the Raptors with the Warriors looking for a sweep after
defeating Toronto, 119-104, on November 21. The last time the Warriors swept the Raptors (2-0) in the regular season series was in 2017-18.
• The Warriors have the league’s best overall record in the NBA at 24-5 (.828) and best home record at 14-2.
• According to NBA.com, the Warriors have the best defensive rating (100.5) and is ranked fourth in offensive rating (111.9), behind Utah (117.8),
Charlotte (113.7) and Atlanta (112.8).
• The Warriors are the only team in the NBA this season that has not allowed an opponent to shoot 50 percent-or-better from the field (29 games). Dating
back to last season, Golden State has a streak of 31 consecutive games without allowing an opponent to shoot 50 percent from the field, tied for the
fifth-longest such streak in franchise history (2/16/65-11/12/65). It’s the longest such streak since a 36-consecutive game streak (3/14/17-11/25/17).
The fourth-longest streak in franchise history is 33-straight games by the Philadelphia Warriors (1/17/57-3/13/57).
• Including games played on December 17, offensively, Golden State ranks third in the NBA in scoring (111.8 ppg), first in assists (28.1 apg), third in
field goal percentage (.469), seventh in 3-point field goal percentage (.364). Defensively, the Warriors rank first in opponent scoring (100.4 ppg), first in
opponent field goal percentage (.422), second in steals (9.34 spg), third in rebounding (46.9 rpg) and second in opponent 3-point field goal percentage
(.324).
• Including games played on December 17, among the league leaders, Stephen Curry is tied with Giannis Antetokounmpo for third in scoring (27.0
ppg), first in 3-pointers made (150), second in free throw percentage (.929); Draymond Green is ranked 12th in assists (7.3 apg); Jordan Poole is
ranked seventh in free throw percentage (.909).
• In the third quarter this season, the Warriors are outscoring opponents (29.1 to 23.6 ppg), outrebounding opponents (12.7 to 9.2 rpg), outshooting
opponents from the field (.488 to .398) and from 3-point range (.397 to .311). The Warriors have outscored opponents, 845-684, a difference of 161
points (5.6 ppg) in the third quarter this season. The +5.6 is the highest for any team in any quarter this season. (NBA.com/stats)
WARRIORS-RAPTORS CONNECTIONS
• Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (Toronto, Ontario) was born in Canada.
• Warriors Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development Jama Mahlalela (Jah-MAH MAH-la-lay-lah) was with the Toronto Raptors from 2006 to last
season, serving in numerous roles, most recently as an assistant coach in 2020-21. Mahlalela was also the head coach of Toronto’s G League team,
Raptors 905 and worked in the front office as director of player development prior to that. Mahlalela, who started with the Raptors on their community
development staff, grew up in the Greater Toronto Area and played collegiately at the University of British Columbia. He was also an assistant coach
with the University of Toronto for four seasons.
• Warriors Player Mentor Coach Leandro Barbosa played for the Toronto Raptors in the second half of the 2010-11 season and the first half of the
2011-12 season… Barbosa appeared in 100 career games (all as a reserve), averaging 12.8 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists in 23.4 minutes per
game for the Raptors.
• Stephen Curry’s father, Dell, played the final three (1999-00 – 2001-02) of his 16 NBA seasons with the Raptors.
• Raptors forward Chris Boucher played for the Warriors’ G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors in 2017-18 and appeared in one game for Golden
State that season.
2021-22
Player’s memorable games against the Raptors
• Andrew Wiggins recorded his lone career triple-double against the Raptors, an 18-point, 10 rebound, career-high 11-assist performance on January
18, 2020 at Minnesota.
• Head Coach Steve Kerr recorded his 400th career coaching victory in 576 games, the fifth-fewest games in NBA history (540 – Pat Riley, 557 – Phil
Jackson, 564 – K.C. Jones, 572 – Billy Cunningham).
• The Warriors improved to 24-5 (.828) and have won last three games, all of which on the road.
• Golden State is off to its best start after 29 games since 2016-17 when they started 25-4.
• The Warriors are now 3-1 on the current five-game road trip and 10-3 overall on the road this season.
• The Celtics shot under 50 percent from the field (.439 FG%), the 31st straight game (all 29 games this season) in which a Warriors opponent has not
shot at least 50 percent from the field, matching the fifth-longest such streak in Warriors history
• With the win, the Warriors snapped a five-game losing streak to the Celtics and a three-game losing streak in Boston.
• Golden State improved to 5-0 in the first game of a back-to-back set this season
• Andrew Wiggins scored 27 points, including a career-high 18 in the second quarter … He had 24 first-half points, one-point shy of the most points he
has ever scored in a half (25, four times).
• Andre Iguodala contributed a season-high-tying 12 points off the bench, his second double-figure scoring effort of the season.
• Stephen Curry had his 39th 4-point play of his career in the first quarter, and second of the season.
• Kevon Looney grabbed 10 rebounds, his fifth game this season with 10-or-more rebounds.
• Jordan Poole missed his first game of the season due to health and safety protocols. Poole had played in the first 28 games of the season.
• Moses Moody made his first career NBA start.
• On 12/4/21, the Spurs ended the Warriors’ 11-game home winning streak with a 112-107 win. The Warriors had won each of those 11 home games by
10-or-more points. It was tied for the longest such streak in team franchise history (11, 12/22/14-1/23/15) and was the longest in the league since the
Utah Jazz had an NBA-record streak of 16 home games won by 10-or-more points last season (1/15-3/24/21).
• The Warriors ended the Suns’ 18-game winning streak on December 3 with a 22-point victory (118-96) – it is the largest margin of victory to end a
streak of that length in NBA history, surpassing the Celtics’ 20-point win (94-74) on 3/18/08 that ended the Houston Rockets’ 22-game win streak
(1/29-3/16/08).
• With 96 points at Phoenix on November 30, the Warriors were held to under 100 points for the first time this season. Golden State had scored at least
100 points in 43 straight regular season games (23 last season, 20 this season). Prior to Nov. 30, 2021, the last time the Warriors were held under 100
points was on April 2, 2021 at Toronto (77-130).
• The Warriors had a 13-2 record in the month of November, tied for the third-highest winning percentage for the Warriors all-time in the month of
November. Their two losses came on the road at Charlotte on November 14 and at Phoenix on November 30.
• On 11/28 at L.A. Clippers, Stephen Curry set a new NBA record for the fewest games needed to reach 100 3-pointers in a season, making 105
3-pointers in 19 games. Twice Curry needed 20 games to reach the century mark (2015-16 and 2018-19). He currently holds four of the Top 5 spots
for fewest games to make 100 3-pointers in a season (James Harden owns one).
• The Warriors completed a four-game road trip with a 3-1 record. Stephen Curry averaged a team-high 33.7 points (.500 FG%, .488 3P%, 12-12 FT),
5.7 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 2.33 steals in 33.3 minutes per game in three contests. Curry made 21 3-pointers in three games (he missed the last game
in Detroit due to a left hip contusion. Andrew Wiggins averaged 21.5 points per game and Jordan Poole had a 17.5 scoring average. Draymond
Green played in three games and averaged 9.3 assists a game during the road trip. Golden State outscored (107.0 to 99.0 ppg), outrebounded (46.0
to 38.5 rpg) and outshot opponents from the field (.476 to .423 FG%) during the four-game road trip.
• On November 15, Stephen Curry was named Western Conference Player of the Week for Week 4 after leading the Warriors to a 3-1 record while
averaging an NBA-high 34.8 points, to go along with 5.5 rebounds, 7.8 assists and 2.25 steals in 34.8 minutes per game. It was Curry’s second weekly
honor of the season (Week 1) and the 18th of his career.
• On Wednesday at Brooklyn, Curry’s nine 3-pointers were the most by a Nets opposing player in team history (previous eight, nine times) (ESPN
SportsCenter).
• The 50-point performance by Stephen Curry on November 8 vs. Atlanta was the most points scored by an individual player this season, surpassing
the 46 points scored by the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown on October 20 at New York in a double overtime game. Prior to Curry scoring 50 points, the most
points scored in a non-overtime game was set by Curry when he scored 45 points on October 21, 2021 vs. the Clippers.
• The Warriors went 7-1 on their eight-game homestand (October 28-November 12), tied for the longest in franchise history (they went 4-4 on their
previous eight-game homestand, January 24-February 9, 2011).
• Stephen Curry has made at least 30 3-pointers through his first six games of a season for the third time in his career. No other player has done this
once in NBA history (ESPN Stats & Info).
• On October 25, the NBA announced Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been named the Week #1 Western Conference Player of the
Week. The award marks the 17th career weekly recognition for the 13-year veteran. Curry helped lead the Warriors to their first 3-0 start since winning
an NBA-record 24-straight games to begin the 2015-16 campaign, averaging 31.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.33 steals in 36.3 minutes.
Curry is the first Warrior to open a season with three-straight 20/10 games since Jerry Lucas in 1970-71.
• Stephen Curry was among 11 active players to be named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team. The Warriors were represented with eight players: Paul
Arizin, Rick Barry, Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jerry Lucas, Robert Parish, and Nate Thurmond.
• The Warriors won their first four games of the season despite trailing at the half in every game. They joined the 1985-86 Clippers as the only teams in
NBA history to open a season 4-0 and overcome a halftime deficit in each of those contests (ESPN Stats & Info).
• Stephen Curry grabbed 10 rebounds in each of his first two games, marking the second time in his career he has had two consecutive games with
10-or-more rebounds. This is the first time in his career Curry has recorded consecutive games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Already the Warriors franchise leader in assists, Curry now has reached the 5,000-assist plateau on October 24, 2021 at Sacramento. Curry became
the 69th player in NBA history to reach the milestone, joining teammate Andre Iguodala.
• Against the Clippers in the Warriors’ home opener, Stephen Curry scored 45 points, the fifth-most scored by a Warriors player in a home opener,
according to the Elias Sports Bureau. In the first quarter, Curry scored 25 points (9-9 FG, 5-5 3P, 2-2 FT), marking the third time in NBA history a
player scored at least 25 points while making at least five 3-pointers and making all of their field goal attempts in a single quarter. The other two times
in NBA history (since play-by-play began being recorded in 1997-98) were done by Warriors with Curry scoring 25 points in the third quarter against
the Thunder in 2020-21 and Klay Thompson tallying his NBA-record 37 points in the third quarter vs. the Kings in 2014-15.
• In the season opener at the Lakers on October 19, Stephen Curry recorded a 21-point, 10-rebound, 10-assist triple-double, becoming just the second
Warriors player in franchise history to record one in the team’s season opener, joining Andy Phillip (21 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) on Nov. 1,
1952 in the Philadelphia Warriors’ overtime win over the Syracuse Nationals, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
• In the season opener at Los Angeles against the Lakers, the Warriors’ reserves accounted for 55 points – 15 coming from Nemanja Bjelica. With a
double-double (11 rebounds), Bjelica became the first Warrior to record a double-double off the bench in his Warriors debut since Sam K. Williams
(16 points, 12 rebounds) on Oct. 30, 1981 at Denver, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
• In the preseason, the Warriors attempted 69 3-pointers at Portland on October 6 – had it been a regular season game, it would have been the secondmost 3-point field goals attempted (Houston attempted an NBA-record 70 vs. Brooklyn on Jan. 16, 2019 in an overtime loss). In the 2021 preseason,
the Warriors led the league in 3-point field goals made (92; next highest was 83 by Miami) and 3-pointers attempted (266; next highest was 235 by
Memphis). The Warriors averaged 53.2 3-point field goals attempts per game in the 2021 preseason; they attempted 38.7 in the 2020-21 regular
season, fifth-highest that season (Utah led the league with 43.0 3-point attempts per game).
• In his 13th NBA season, Stephen Curry has matched Chris Mullin for the most seasons played for the Warriors franchise.
• Andre Iguodala returned to the Warriors after spending the last two seasons with the Heat. Iguodala has been to the postseason in each of his last
11 seasons.
• Both Klay Thompson (missed the last two seasons due to a torn left ACL and torn right Achilles) and James Wiseman (right knee meniscus injury)
are expected to return to the lineup during the 2021-22 regular season.
• The Warriors selected Jonathan Kuminga from G League Ignite with the seventh overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and Moses Moody from
Arkansas with the 14th overall pick. When selected, Kuminga was 18 years old; Moody was 19.
• During the offseason, the Warriors signed free agents Nemanja Bjelica and Otto Porter Jr. and signed Chris Chiozza to a Two-way contract.
• The NBA and Warriors are celebrating 75 seasons during the 2021-22 season. The 2021-22 season marks the Warriors’ 76th season and their 60th
in the Bay Area. The Warriors (then in Philadelphia) were among the original 11 teams in the inaugural 1946-47 season.
• In 2020-21, the Warriors won 15 of their last 20 regular season games, including eight of nine in the month of May.
LAST SEASON’S NOTES
• Golden State compiled a 39-33 record during the 2020-21 regular season, finishing eighth in the Western Conference. Losses in the Play-In Tournament
to the No. 7 seed Lakers and No. 9 seed Grizzlies prevented the Warriors from qualifying for the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
• The Warriors won 15 of their last 20 regular season games, including posting an 8-1 in the month of May.
• The 24-win improvement (15 in 2019-20 to 39 in 2020-21) matched the largest win improvement from one season to the next in Warriors franchise
history, as the 2011-12 Warriors went 23-43 and then improved to 47-35 in 2012-13, beginning their franchise-record streak of seven straight playoff
appearances, which included five consecutive trips to the NBA Finals and three championships.
• Stephen Curry averaged 37.0 points (.491 FG%, .441 3P%, .904 FT%) in playing 26 of the team’s final 28 games of the 2020-21 season, including
the two Play-In Tournament games. Of those 26 appearance, Curry scored at least 30 points 23 times. He reached the 40-point plateau eight times
and 50 once in the 26-game span.
• With the scoring title in 2020-21, Stephen Curry joined Michael Jordan as the only players age-33 or older to win the scoring title. Curry also joins
Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players with multiple scoring titles, MVPs and championships (ESPN Stats & Info).
• In 2020-21, Stephen Curry had seven games with 10 or more 3-pointers (four times with 11 triples). That is the new NBA single-season for most
games with 10 or more 3-pointers, surpassing the previous mark of six set by Curry during the 2018-19 season.
• Stephen Curry scored 40 or more points 11 times during the 2020-21 season. That’s the third-most by a player in their 12th season or later, trailing
only Michael Jordan (12 in 1997-98) and tied with Bernard King (11, 1990-91). Curry had six 40-point games in the month of April.
• Draymond Green averaged a career-high 8.9 assists per game, tied with Phoenix’s Chris Paul for third among league leaders in 2020-21. Among
non-guards, only LeBron James has ever finished a season with a higher assist average (10.2 apg in 2019-20, 9.1 apg in 2017-18). The last time a
Warrior averaged at least 8.9 assists per game in a season was Baron Davis in 2005-06 when he averaged 8.9 assists per game, finishing second
in the league.
• The 558 assists in 2020-21 for Draymond Green is the second-highest assist total for a season for him, trailing only a career-high 598 in 2015-16.
• Draymond Green, who matched his career-high assists with 19 on April 23 vs. Denver, dished out 10 or more assists in 24 games last season, the
most 10-assist games in a single season in his career. Prior to Green, the last Warrior to have that many 10-assist games in a single season was
Stephen Curry with 24 in 2014-15.
• Draymond Green handed out 15 or more assists seven times last season (he had a combined three in the previous eight seasons). According to
the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the most 15-assist games in a season by a non-guard in NBA history. Only Russell Westbrook (14) and James
Harden (7) have had that many 15-assist games this season. The last Warriors player to have at least seven 15-assist games in a single season was
Tim Hardaway with nine in 1994-95. Only Guy Rodgers (twice), John Lucas, Sleepy Floyd and Hardaway (three times) have had seven or more
15-assist games in a season in Warriors franchise history.
Q
GAME #20 – TORONTO RAPTORS (9-10) vs. INDIANA PACERS (8-12)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 – 8 P.M. (ET) – GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE
TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
• The Toronto Raptors (9-10) finish a six-game road trip (Nov. 15-26) Friday night against the Indiana Pacers (8-12) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Raptors are 2-3 on the trip and 7-4 on the road overall. Toronto has won the first two meetings with the Pacers this season. Fred VanVleet is averaging 21.0 points and 8.0 rebounds vs. Indiana this year. The Raptors have won six of the last eight meetings with the Pacers.
• Following Friday’s game at Indiana, Toronto begins a season-long seven-game homestand (Nov. 28—Dec. 13) Sunday night vs. Boston. The Raptors end the month of November with two home games and will play 10-of-13 games at Scotiabank Arena in December.
• The Raptors scored a season-high 126 points, made a season-best 47 field goals and shot a season-best .528 (47-89) from the field in Wednesday’s comeback victory at Memphis. The Grizzlies led 71-59 at the half. All five starters scored 17+ points in the win for Toronto. The starting five combined for 100 points and shot .544 (37-68) from the floor.
• The Raptors committed just 10 turnovers in Wednesday’s victory at Memphis. Toronto has now recorded fewer turnovers (or same) than its opponent in 15-of-19 games this season. The Raptors rank fourth in the
league in turnovers (12.9) and tied for second forcing opponents into 16.7 turnovers per game.
• Gary Trent Jr. scored 17 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter Nov. 24 at Memphis. Trent Jr. has now scored 20+ points in five of the last seven games (Nov. 11-24), averaging 21.7 points. He is shooting .466 (54-116) from the field, .435 (27-62) from beyond the arc and a perfect 17-for-17 at the free
throw line during this stretch. The Raptors are 5-2 this season when Trent Jr. scores at least 20 points.
• Rookie Scottie Barnes recorded 17 points and a team-high nine rebounds Wednesday against the Grizzlies. Barnes leads all rookies in scoring (14.8), rebounds (8.4) and minutes (35.1), and ranks third with a .486 field goal percentage (105-216). He has led the Raptors in scoring five times, rebounds on seven occasions and scored 20+ points in four games.
• Gary Trent Jr. (76) and Fred VanVleet (68) rank first and third respectively, in the NBA in deflections.
Trent Jr. also ranks fifth in the NBA in steals (2.05) and has tied his single-game career high with five steals three times. VanVleet has led the league in deflections per game each of the past two seasons.
Toronto currently leads the NBA in steals (9.9) and deflections (20.2) per game.
• OG Anunoby missed his fourth straight game (Nov. 18-24) Nov. 24 at Memphis with a left hip pointer. He sustained the injury during practice Nov. 17 in Portland. Anunoby is averaging a team-high 20.1 points and
has scored 20+ points eight times in 15 games played this season.
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4
MIN: 35.1 REB: 8.4 AST: 3.3 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.1 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 14.8
• Recorded 17 points, a team-high nine rebounds and three assists in 39 minutes Nov. 24 at Memphis.
• Tied with Precious Achiuwa for the team lead with three double-doubles.
• Leads all rookies in scoring (14.8), rebounds (8.4) and minutes (35.1), and ranks third in field goal % (.486).
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 32.2 REB: 6.6 AST: 3.4 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.1 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 17.8
• Tallied 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 33 minutes of action Nov. 24 at Memphis.
• Needs five rebounds for 2,000 in his career; will become the 10th player in franchise history to reach milestone.
• Missed the first 10 games (Oct. 20 – Nov. 5) of the regular season recovering from left shoulder surgery.
.
C – PRECIOUS ACHIUWA #5
MIN: 24.5 REB: 8.1 AST: 1.6 STL: 0.6 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 8.3
• Finished with 17 points, four rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes Nov. 24 at Memphis.
• Has scored in double figures in consecutive games (Nov. 21-24), averaging 14.5 points.
• Averaging 8.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 24.1 minutes in 12 games as a starter.
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33
MIN: 34.5 REB: 3.2 AST: 1.7 STL: 2.1 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 17.5
• Scored a team-high 26 points Nov. 24 at Memphis; added a season high-tying four assists in 39 minutes.
• Ranks fifth in the NBA in steals per game (2.05); has recorded multiple steals in 11 games.
• Averaging 19.8 points, and is shooting .392 (38-97) from three-point range, in November (12 games).
G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 38.0 REB: 4.9 AST: 6.8 STL: 1.7 TO: 3.1 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 19.4
• Contributed 23 points, six rebounds and a team-high seven assists in 37 minutes Nov. 24 at Memphis.
• In nine wins this season, averaging 21.1 points and is shooting .441 (30-68) from beyond the arc.
• Leads the NBA in minutes per game (38.0), and tied for 12th in both assists (6.8) and steals (1.65) per game.
INJURY REPORT
OG Anunoby (Left Hip; Pointer) – Questionable
Khem Birch (Right Knee; Swelling) – Out
2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 9-10 7-6 2-4
HOME 2-6 2-5 0-1
AWAY 7-4 5-1 2-3
OVERTIME 0-0 0-0 0-0
NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Boston Celtics
Date: Sunday, November 28
Tip-Off: 6 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Television: Sportsnet
Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto
PACERS PROBABLE STARTERS
PLAYER / 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON AVERAGES NOTES
SF • 6-6 • 181 • Washington/USA • 9th Season
GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG
20/12 10.0 3.0 1.6 0.5 0.2 28.1
Posted his highest scoring total in his three seasons with Indiana
with 27 points as he shot 9-for-11 from the field (6-8 3FG) in the win
over Philadelphia, 11/13…Holiday was the only Pacers player to
appear in every game over the past two seasons…He has played in
246 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the
NBA, including 164 in a Pacers uniform.
PF • 6-11 • 240 • Gonzaga/Lithuania • 6th Season
GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG
20/20 17.8 11.2 3.8 1.3 0.4 34.0
Currently tied for second in the NBA this season with 12 doubledoubles…Entered the 2021-22 season as Indiana’s career franchise
leader in field goal percentage (.552), rebounding average (10.2),
and triple-doubles (10)…Recorded six triple-doubles last season –
most in a season in team history.
C • 6-11 • 250 • Texas/USA • 7th Season
GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG
20/20 12.7 7.5 1.1 0.7 3.0 28.6
Leads the NBA in blocked shots this season with 58 (3.1 per
game)…Set a new career high with 40 points and matched his
previous high with five 3-pointers in the second game of 2021-22, at
Washington, 10/22…Led the NBA in blocks for the second time in his
career with 3.4 per game in 2020-21…Has led the NBA in blocks in
two of the last four seasons, and has ranked in the NBA’s top five in
each of the last five years.
SG • 6-6 • 205 • Michigan/USA • 6th Season
GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG
12/12 13.8 2.8 3.0 0.8 0.6 25.3
Made his season debut, earned the start and finished with 15 points
in 16 minutes against the Raptors, 10/30…Set new career highs as
he averaged 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.4 steals
over 47 games with the Brooklyn Nets (12) and Indiana Pacers (35).
PG • 6-5 • 229 • Virginia/USA • 6th Season
GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG
15/15 21.3 6.1 5.8 0.7 0.7 35.0
Recorded the second triple-double of his NBA career and his first
since his rookie season as he finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds
and 10 assists in the win over Philadelphia, 11/13…Scored 20 or
more points a career-high 34 times in 2020-21 with four games of
30+ points, a feat he had accomplished only three times over his
previous four NBA seasons.
2021-22 REGULAR SEASON PACERS RECORDS
RECORD HOME ROAD OT
OVERALL 8-12 5-3 3-9 1-2
WESTERN 4-3 2-1 2-2 0-1
EASTERN 4-9 3-2 1-7 1-1
CENTRAL 1-2 0-1 1-1 —