FILE–Fred VanVleet #20 of the Toronto Raptors. Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP
Fred VanVleet scored 24 of his 37 points in the third quarter and added 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the host Toronto Raptors wore down the depleted Utah Jazz 122-108 Friday night.
It was the first career triple-double for VanVleet. OG Anunoby added 22 points for the Raptors, who have won five in a row.
Pascal Siakam contributed 17 points for Toronto. Chris Boucher had 13 points, Scottie Barnes had 11 points and nine rebounds and Gary Trent Jr. scored 10 points for the Raptors.
Utah was missing eight players, including stars Donovan Mitchell (back strain) and Rudy Gobert (health and safety protocols. Also sitting out for the Jazz were Joe Ingles (COVID-19 protocol), Mike Conley (knee), Bojan Bogdanovic (finger), Royce O’Neale (knee), Rudy Gay (heel) and Jordan Clarkson (back).
🔥 @FredVanVleet ERUPTED for 24 points in the 3rd quarter, including 17 straight points for the @Raptors as he logged his first career triple-double!
🏀 37 PTS
🏀 10 REB
🏀 10 AST pic.twitter.com/Ye7T554GRu— NBA (@NBA) January 8, 2022
Eric Paschall scored 17 of his season-best 29 points in the first quarter for the Jazz, who had a 10-game road winning streak end. Elijah Hughes established career highs of 26 points and seven 3-pointers, Jared Butler scored a career-high 17 points and Danuel House Jr. had 13.
Toronto used a 45-30 third quarter to take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. Toronto’s lead reached 105-99 with 8:42 remaining on Siakam’s hook shot. VanVleet bumped the lead to 12 on a 13-footer with 5:23 to go in the game. Precious Achiuwa added a layup, stretching the lead to 14 with 4:23 left.
Malik Fitts beat the buzzer with a 49-foot 3-pointer to end the first quarter and give Utah a 40-25 lead.
Butler’s 3-pointer stretched the lead to 51-34 with 8:07 left in the second quarter. VanVleet’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 14 with 2:59 remaining. The Jazz led 62-49 at halftime.
Toronto had an 11-5 surge to open the third quarter, cutting the lead to seven. Utah responded with a 10-2 run to lead by 15 with 7:20 to play in the third. Anunoby’s 3-pointer cut the lead to nine with 5:30 left. VanVleet scored 15 straight Toronto points to tie the score at 87 with 1:32 to play. VanVleet hit a 3-pointer to end the third quarter and give Toronto a 94-92 lead.