Fred VanVleet sets Toronto Raptors’ franchise record by nailing 54 points in win over Orlando Magic

Fred VanVleet sets Toronto Raptors’ franchise record by nailing 54 points in win over Orlando Magic
Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry

Fred VanVleet scored franchise record by knocking 54-points against Orlando Magic as Toronto Raptors register their 9th win of the season. VanVleet set the record for the highest score by an individual in a Toronto Raptors’ jersey which was previously set by DeMar DeRozan in January, 2018. DeRozan held this record scoring 52, but VanVleet did it better by knocking 54 points, with career best eleven 3-pointers. Kyle Lowry registered a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. 

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the most points in an NBA game for an undrafted player — eclipsing the 53 scored by Hall of Fame big man Moses Malone on the exact same date 39 years earlier. VanVleet best 3-pointer record in the regular season was seven. While he scored eight 3-pointers against Brooklyn in the playoffs. 

Fred VanVleet dazzles on court to lead Toronto Raptors over Orlando Magic 

“Unbelievable and I’m very humbled and honored to be in the same sentence with both of those guys,” said Fred VanVleet as per ESPN, who took a video call from DeRozan in the Toronto locker room after the game. “It’s just a special night on a lot of different levels. I’m trying to enjoy it for now, but it’s not a championship or anything like that. It was a good game for me. I’ll enjoy the love for a couple of hours and get ready for the next one.” 

FS Video

“I thought early on that the ball was coming off his hands so easily and the deep shots looked like there was hardly any effort,” Toronto coach Nick Nurse said. “There was something that was making them fly off so comfortably. Wherever he shot them from it seemed like a free throw line attempt, effort-wise.” 

Toronto, which entered second in the NBA in 3s and attempts per game, connected on 20 of 46 shots from beyond the arc. Once 2-8, the Raptors won for the seventh time in 11 games. They beat the reeling Magic for a second time in three nights and for the seventh consecutive time over the past three seasons. 

Also Read: Stephen Curry joins Wilt Chamberlain as only player to score 17,000…