The Canadian Press
Melissa Couto
TORONTO–Pascal Siakam is feeling confident in his expanded role as a focal part of the Raptors offence.
The results are following.
Siakam scored 30 points yesterday for the third time in five games, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 125-113 win over the Detroit Pistons.
“Feels good, I feel comfortable,” said Siakam, whose responsibility has increased this year in the wake of Kawhi Leonard’s free-agent departure over the off-season.
“I think the more and more I get into situations like that the more comfortable I get.
“Just having the coach trust me to have the ball in my hands . . . it feels good and the more comfortable I’m going to get.”
Siakam also added five rebounds and five assists in 30 minutes as Toronto (4-1) built up a comfortable lead, then spent much of the fourth quarter on the bench as coach Nick Nurse rested most of his starters.
Fred Van Vleet had 13 points and 11 assists, Kyle Lowry had 20 points and Norm Powell and Serge Ibaka added 19 off the bench to help the Raptors earn their first win against former coach Dwane Casey.
Andre Drummond had 21 points and 22 boards to lead Detroit (2-3) and Derrick Rose poured in 16 points with 10 assists.
Siakam scored 19 points in a dominant third quarter that saw Toronto pull ahead by as many as 20 before ending the frame with a 101-85 lead.
The Raptors opened the third on an 8-0 run for a 13-point lead, and extended the advantage to 82-62 a few minutes later on a 10-0 run capped by a Siakam three-pointer.
Siakam sank his third three of the game in the final seconds of the third.
Siakam’s three 30-point games are the most by an NBA player so far this season.
He scored 30 or more points five times in 80 games last year.
The Raptors led 37-28 after 12 minutes and 64-58 at the half.
OG Anunoby ignited the crowd early with a pair of dunks in the first quarter and finished with 13 points.
