VanVleet unleashes 54 points to lead Raptors past Magic

TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 29: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors is congratulated by Fred VanVleet #23 during a game against the Sacramento Kings at Amalie Arena on January 29, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP 

Fred VanVleet exploded for a franchise record 54 points as the Toronto Raptors demolished the Orlando Magic 123-108 on Tuesday.

VanVleet — whose previous best score was 36 points — looked poised to topple Klay Thompson’s single-game three-pointer record of 14 after nailing 11 threes in the opening three quarters.

But VanVleet was unable to add to his collection in the closing stages and had to content himself with beating the Raptors previous best scoring record of 52 points set by DeMar DeRozan in 2018.

NEW RAPTORS RECORD.

54 POINTS.@FredVanVleet. WOW. #NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/OC5pmLPpw2

— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) February 3, 2021

“It was just my time,” VanVleet said afterwards. “I’ve been missing a lot of open ones this season, more than I usually do.

“But it was my time tonight. Sometimes you just get in that groove and find that zone and my teammates did an unbelievable job of finding me. A lot of them were just catch-and-shoots.”

Fred VanVleet (11-14 3PM) becomes the third player in @NBAHistory to make 11+ threes in a game on 75% shooting or better from beyond the arc, joining Stephen Curry and Zach LaVine. pic.twitter.com/NGgMAujOpw

— NBA History (@NBAHistory) February 3, 2021

VanVleet joked that he had taken particular satisfaction from beating his friend DeRozan’s record.

“Every time I get a 30-point game, I usually get a text from DeMar telling me that I’m weak for not passing his record. I definitely had him in mind as I got close down the stretch.”