Published By: Ritayan Basu
Last Updated: March 15, 2023, 08:37 IST
NBA: Toronto Raptors and Denver Nuggets (AP)
Toronto Raptors defeated Denver Nuggets 125-110 as Los Angeles Lakers beat New Orleans Pelicans 123-108 within the NBA
The Denver Nuggets slumped to a fourth straight defeat on Tuesday as Fred VanVleet stored the Toronto Raptors’ playoff hopes alive with a virtuoso show in a 125-110 victory.
Toronto level guard VanVleet completed with 36 factors, together with eight three-pointers, with seven assists and three steals to offer Toronto an important win as they intention to stay in competition for a spot within the postseason.
The Raptors went on the entrance foot from the outset, pouring in a franchise report 49 factors in a outstanding first quarter to go away Western Conference leaders Denver shellshocked.
That early scoring blitz was to show decisive, with the Raptors leaping right into a 24-point lead within the third quarter.
Although a late rally noticed Denver near inside six factors within the fourth quarter, Toronto went on a late run to tug away as soon as extra and full a wire-to-wire victory on the Scotiabank Arena.
“We got here out with nice tempo, shared the ball, and the ball was transferring,” VanVleet mentioned afterwards.
“Obviously we were making shots but it’s a little bit easier whenever score is assisted. It was a good first quarter.
“We’ve just got to keep playing – we’ve been up and down, but we’ve been playing pretty good of late. We’ve got to keep doing it.”
Toronto improved to 33-36 with the win and stay in ninth place within the Eastern Conference.
Staying alive
While VanVleet was the important thing performer for Toronto, all 4 of the Raptors different starters completed with double-digit scoring tallies, with O.G. Anunoby scoring 24 factors, Scottie Barnes 18, and Pascal Siakam and Jakob Poeltl including 12 apiece.
Nikola Jokic led the Denver scorers with 28 factors because the Nuggets fell to 46-23, 4 video games away from second-placed Memphis within the Western Conference standings.
In different video games Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers bought again to profitable methods after Sunday’s defeat to the New York Knicks with a complete 123-108 street win over the New Orleans Pelicans within the Big Easy.
With LeBron James sidelined, Anthony Davis as soon as once more stepped up for the Lakers with 35 factors and 17 rebounds whereas Malik Beasley placed on a three-point taking pictures clinic, making 7-of-12 makes an attempt from past the arc in a 24-point haul.
The win retains the Lakers firmly in competition for a playoff place with just below 4 weeks of the common season remaining.
“We’re simply making an attempt to remain alive,” Davis said afterwards. “We came out with a mindset of having this as a must-win game.”
Davis had been decided to provide an enormous efficiency in opposition to his former membership, after blaming himself for the Lakers 112-108 loss to the Knicks on Sunday.
“Everybody did their job (on Sunday) besides myself. That was on me,” Davis said.
“I never want to have a performance like I did the other night and let my team down. I wanted to come out tonight and make a difference.”
Cleveland in the meantime stored up their pursuit of Philadelphia within the Eastern Conference with a 120-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina.
Evan Mobley led the Cavaliers scorers within the absence of Donovan Mitchell with 26 factors as Cleveland improved to 44-27 to stay fourth within the East.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
