Pro Sports

VanVleet's 1st career triple-double pushes Raptors over Jazz

Posted January 07, 2022 6:00 am

The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) drives against Utah Jazz center Hassan Whiteside (21) as guard Trent Forrest (3) watches during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) - Fred VanVleet had 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for his first career triple-double, OG Anunoby scored 22 points, and the Toronto Raptors overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the short-handed Jazz 122-108 on Friday night, snapping Utah's 10-game road winning streak.

Pascal Siakam scored 17 points, Chris Boucher had 13, Scottie Barnes had 11 and Gary Trent Jr. added 10 as the Raptors extended their winning streak to five and ended a three-game losing streak against the Jazz.

Eric Paschall scored a career-high 29 points, Elijah Hughes had a career-best 26 and Jared Butler scored 17 for the depleted Jazz, who were without eight regulars.

VanVleet scored 24 points in the third quarter, when he shot 8 for 8, made all three of his 3-point attempts and had three rebounds, three assists, and two steals. He scored 17 straight at one stretch.

'œThat was an incredible one, all the way through the quarter,'ť Raptors head coach Nick Nurse said.

VanVleet, who has scored 30 or more five times in the past seven games, said Toronto's defensive intensity in the third helped spark his offensive outburst.

'œI really thought it was the defense, to be honest with you,'ť VanVleet said, 'œjust picking up full court and trying to generate some aggressiveness.'ť

VanVleet completed his triple-double with a lob pass to Precious Achiuwa with 2:01 left in the fourth.

'œI was just trying to get the win,'ť VanVleet said. 'œI wasn't really thinking about it. By the time I checked in in the fourth there, we were kind of in control, so I didn't have much time to think about it.'ť

Utah came in 14-3 away from home, tied with Brooklyn for the best road record in the NBA. The Jazz led by 13 at halftime, but lost on the road for the first time since Orlando beat them 107-100 on Nov. 7.

'œIn the second half, our transition defense was what let us down,'ť Jazz coach Quin Snyder said.

Utah's absentees included Rody Gobert and Joe Ingles, who are in the health and safety protocols. Donovan Mitchell (back), Mike Conley (right knee) and Bojan Bogdanovic (left middle finger) did not make the trip to Toronto. Other absences included Rudy Gay (right heel), Royce O'Neale (right knee) and Jordan Clarkson (back).

Hassan Whiteside returned for the Jazz after missing the previous three games while in the concussion protocol.

'œI was really pleased and proud of the guys that were out there tonight and how they competed,'ť Snyder said.

Forward Danuel House and center Norvel Pelle each made their Jazz debuts after signing 10-day hardship contracts earlier in the week. House shot 4 for 7 and scored 13 points.

'œHe showed some of the reasons that we wanted him here,'ť Snyder said.

Paschall scored 17 points in the first, eclipsing his previous season-high of 13 points, and Malik Fitts banked in a buzzer-beating 3 from half-court as Utah jumped out to a 40-25 lead after one.

'œThey came out and punched us right in the mouth,'ť VanVleet said.

Playing for the third time in four nights, Toronto shot 2 for 11 from 3-point range in the first, then went 3 for 15 from distance in the second. The Jazz led 62-49 at halftime.

A 3 by Hughes gave Utah an 84-70 lead with 4:43 to go in the third, but VanVleet responded with a 15-0 run, giving Toronto its first lead since the opening basket of the game. VanVleet capped the quarter with a long 3 as Toronto took a 94-92 lead to the fourth.

SHOEGAZING

VanVleet wore three different pairs of shoes during the game, settling on a white pair for the second half.

'œIt took me three pairs, but I figured it out,'ť he said.

KYLE'S CONGRATS

Former Raptors guard Kyle Lowry tweeted congratulations to VanVleet on his triple-double. 'œAbout time !! Lol congrats !!!," Lowry wrote, adding the hashtag #NBAAllStar.

'œI was texting him,'ť VanVleet said. 'œWe had a good back-and-forth. Shout-out to Kyle. I got to learn from one of the best at getting triple-doubles.'ť

POWER PERIOD

VanVleet's 24-point third is the second-highest scoring quarter in Raptors history. Siakam had 25 points in the first quarter of a Jan. 26, 2020, win at San Antonio.

TIP-INS

Jazz: Shot 7 for 13 from 3-point range in the first quarter. '¦ Hughes shot 7 for 12 from 3-point range, both career-best marks, and added eight rebounds.

Raptors: F Svi Mykhailiuk returned after missing the previous two games while in the health and safety protocols. '¦ F Yuta Watanabe (health and safety protocols) missed his third straight game. '¦ Toronto signed F D.J. Wilson to a second 10-day hardship contract.

UP NEXT

Jazz: Visit Indiana on Saturday.

Raptors: Host New Orleans on Sunday.

___

More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet celebrates with teammates after recording his first triple-double, during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) laughs on the bench during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) celebrates with teammates after recording his first triple-double, during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz on Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) drives between Utah Jazz forward Elijah Hughes (33) and center Udoka Azubuike (20) during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Friday, January 7, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Utah Jazz forward Elijah Hughes (33) drives past Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) protects the ball from Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler (13) and center Hassan Whiteside during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Utah Jazz forward Eric Paschall (0) shoots while surrounded by Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23), center Khem Birch (24) and forward OG Anunoby during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Utah Jazz guard Trent Forrest (3) protects the ball from Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) blocks a shot from Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) blocks a shot from Utah Jazz guard Jared Butler (13) as Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) helps defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Utah Jazz forward Eric Paschall (0) prepares to shoot from between Toronto Raptors forward Justin Champagnie, left, and center Khem Birch during the first half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Utah Jazz forward Daniel House Jr. (25) and Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) chase the ball during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Friday, Jan. 7, 2022. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) defends against Utah Jazz forward Eric Paschall (0) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, in Toronto. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP) The Associated Press

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