Fred VanVleet records first triple-double as Raptors rally past Jazz for fifth straight victory

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Yash Matange
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• 6 min read
Fred VanVleet

The Toronto Raptors extended their win streak to five games on Friday, defeating the Jazz at home 122-108 behind a huge second-half comeback. 

Fred VanVleet recorded his first career triple-double, finishing with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He sparked the Raptors to their huge third quarter, which got the hosts back on track and put them in line for the victory.

The Jazz, who were nearly missing every major rotation player, were led by the duo of Eric Paschall and Elijah Hughes. They combined for 55 points, each player posting career-high tallies of 29 and 26, respectively. 

With the win, the Raptors move to 19-17 on the season, with their current five-game win streak tying their longest of the season. The last time they won five straight was between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3.

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Here are some thoughts from the buzzer…

Visiting Jazz majorly shorthanded

Calling the Jazz shorthanded against the Raptors would be an understatement.

The team was suiting up without eight of their top nine scorers in Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Joe Ingles, Mike Conley, Jordan Clarkson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Rudy Gay and Royce O'Neale. 

For the Raptors, the starting line-up included VanVleet, Siakam, Barnes, Anuboy and Trent Jr. This group of Toronto starters have gone 3-3 in their six previous games. 

Paschall's red-hot first quarter

Eric Paschall, acquired by the Jazz from the Warriors in an offseason trade at the expense of a future second-round pick, went off in the first quarter. 

Averaging 3.2 points having played 25 out of the Jazz's 40 games leading into this one, the 6-foot-6 forward erupted for 17 points in the first period.

Paschall

His eruption helped the Jazz jump to a 15-point lead (40-25) at the end of the first 12 minutes, capped off by a buzzer-beater.

His early performance had his childhood friend and current teammate in Donovan Mitchell excited. 

VanVleet's third-quarter takeover 

Even through the first 7:30 minutes of the third quarter, the players from the second and third unit of the Jazz were not showing any signs of slowing down as they held an 84-70 lead. 

The Raptors needed a special performance to spark a comeback and their point guard delivered. Over the remainder of the period, VanVleet dominated including going on an individual 17-0 run for the team. 

Of the team's final 24 points in the third quarter, he scored 20, assisted on a couple while the remaining two were free throws from Chris Boucher. 

His 24 points in the quarter, which is one shy of the franchise record held by Pascal Siakam, helped the Raptors score 45 in the period. He also recorded three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting from the field in the period

That not only allowed them to cut the Jazz deficit but also take the lead heading into the fourth quarter. 

Siakam helps Raps build on VanVleet spark

After that herculean performance in the third, VanVleet looked gassed but his teammate Siakam allowed him to rest up.

The 6-foot-9 Cameronian scored or assisted on 10 of the team's 17 points, ensuring the Raptors build on their lead through the first 5:58 minutes that VanVleet sat. 

At the final buzzer, Siakam finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Joining him and VanVleet in double-figure scoring were Anunoby (22), Barnes (11), Trent Jr. (10) and Chris Boucher (13). 

VanVleet records first career triple-double

Midway through the fourth quarter, VanVleet returned and recorded his first career triple-double. 

The triple-double is the 30th in Raptors franchise history and VanVleet becomes the 11th player in franchise history to do so. His landmark achievement got former teammate Kyle Lowry to tweet out and share his reaction.

He is currently tied with six other players in franchise history including teammate Pascal Siakam to have one triple-double. 

Jazz eventually tire out

The Jazz provided quite the fight but couldn't keep the fight on for the full 48 minutes. After leading by 13 at halftime, they were outscored by 27 in the second half. 

In fact, specifically over the final 16:30 minutes, they were outscored 52-24 as their offence went cold down the stretch. This loss snaps Utah's 11-game road win streak. 

What's next?

The Raptors return to action on Sunday, Jan. 9 as they host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Scotiabank Arena for the first time since Oct. 22, 2019 when they raised their championship banner to the rafters.

Tip-off begins at 6 p.m ET. Catch you then.

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Yash Matange Photo
Yash Matange

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