Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet scores 54 points to break franchise record

Fred VanVleet set a Toronto Raptors franchise record and an undrafted record scoring 54 points in Toronto’s 123-108 win over the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night.

“It was just the right time. … It’s just the right time,” VanVleet told SportstNet in Toronto. “I’ve missed a lot this season, more than usual, but it was about time. Sometimes you get into that groove and you find that area, and tonight I got to do it and my teammates made a One. amazing job finding me, tracking me down and getting the ball to my places. A lot of them were just catch-and-shoot. “

VanVleet set both records with a layup with 3:46 left in the fourth quarter, a bucket that simultaneously topped DeMar DeRozan’s Raptors record by 52 points as well as Hall of Famer Moses Malone’s 53-point record. for an undrafted player. VanVleet scored nearly half of Toronto’s points in a comfortable win.

VanVleet started quickly by scoring 17 points in the first quarter, hitting his five attempts by 3 points. At halftime he reached 28 points, hitting eight 3 points. He surpassed his previous career high by 36 points midway through the third quarter, reaching 46 and 11 3-pointers after three quarters.

VanVleet was unable to chase Donyell Marshall’s franchise record in a single game of 12 3 points or Klay Thompson’s NBA record of 14. When he returned to the fourth quarter, he made two free throws after being fouled on a practice, then made three unchallenged layups to reach his record total.

He said he expected to hear from DeRozan, his former teammate, whom he said he thought as he neared the record.

“It was only a matter of time,” VanVleet said, with a smile, beating DeRozan’s mark. “Every time I get a 30, I usually get a text from DeMar saying I’m weak for not hitting his record. So I definitely had it in mind as I got closer.

DeRozan took to Twitter shortly after the game to congratulate VanVleet, writing in part: “Glad you were champion! I told you!”

VanVleet finished 17-for-23 from the field, including 11-for-14 on 3 runs and 9-for-9 from the free throw line. He also had 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals and 3 blocks in 37 minutes for Toronto, who swept a two-game set with Orlando.

Now in his fifth season, VanVleet previously set another kind of record for an undrafted player this offseason when he signed a four-year, $ 85 million contract to stay with the Raptors, who signed him out of. Wichita State in 2016. The contract was the largest for an undrafted player in NBA history.