This was published 4 years ago
Raptors celebrate title, then edge Pelicans in overtime
Fred VanVleet scored a career-best 34 points, including a crucial three-pointer in overtime, as NBA champions Toronto opened the season with a 130-122 victory over the visiting New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday (AEDT).
Toronto's Pascal Siakam also scored 34 points and grabbed 18 rebounds before fouling out with 50.1 seconds left in regulation.
Fred VanVleet had a career-best scoring night.Credit: AP
The Raptors tied the game at 117 on Kyle Lowry's two free throws with 29.2 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime.
Lowry added 22 points, Serge Ibaka had 13 points and OG Anunoby 11 for Toronto.
Brandon Ingram led the Pelicans with 22 points. JJ Redick added 16 points, and Josh Hart had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Nicolo Melli had 14 points and Jrue Holiday 13 for New Orleans, who were without first overall draft pick Zion Williams (knee surgery).
Marc Gasol's lay-up and free throw put the Raptors ahead 122-120 in overtime, but Holiday tied the game.
Lowry's two free throws with 2:06 left in OT restored Toronto's two-point lead. VanVleet then hit a corner three-pointer, and the Raptors led 127-122 with 1:28 to play. Lowry added a three-pointer with 56.7 seconds to go.
Ibaka put the Raptors up by six when he hit a turnaround hook shot with 3:04 left in the third quarter. Ibaka made two free throws 25 seconds later for an eight-point lead. The Pelicans crept back and trailed 88-86 when Hart's two free throws closed the third-period scoring.
Raptors players, coaches and staff received the biggest championship rings in NBA history as they celebrated their title victory from last season in the pre-game ceremony.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver was on hand to honour the Raptors, who won their first title with a six-game triumph over Golden State Warriors last June.
The rings each contain 14 carats of diamonds and more than 650 diamonds in all, topped by a 1.25-carat diamond representing the Larry O'Brien trophy (the largest single diamond in the history of professional sports rings) with 14 carats of yellow gold on the ring, 16 rubies representing the Raptors' victories to win it all and the jersey numbers of all sixteen players on the roster.
On the face of the ring, diamonds form the Toronto skyline above the word "North" spelled out in diamonds inside a golden chevron.
"One of a kind. Very, very detailed," Lowry said. "The story on the ring is amazing. It's really personalised.
"It's a very spectacular ring. It's something that you earned and it took a long time to get ..."
Five-time All-Star guard Lowry took the microphone, after the rings were handed out, to thank fans for their support.
He then gathered his teammates around him before leading a countdown to reveal a black, red and gold championship banner hanging above the home bench.
The Raptors lost NBA finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in free agency to the Los Angeles Clippers, who face LeBron James and Los Angeles Lakers in the opening night's only other game.
Reuters, AP