NBA: CJ McCollum powers Pelicans past Raptors
Devonte’ Graham #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans hi fives Garrett Temple #41 of the New Orleans Pelicans after a made shot during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on December 5, 2021 in Houston, Texas. Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images/AFP
CJ McCollum scored 23 points as the host New Orleans Pelicans dominated the Toronto Raptors from start to finish in a 120-90 victory Monday night.
Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points, Jaxson Hayes scored 14, and Herbert Jones and Garrett Temple had 11 each. Brandon Ingram had 10 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, falling two assists shy of what would have been his first career double-double after sitting out the fourth quarter.
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The Pelicans shot 58.4 percent from the floor, including 45.7 percent on 3-pointers. McCollum led the way by making 9 of 13 field-goal attempts, including 5 of 8 3-pointers, as New Orleans won for the first time in three games since acquiring him from Portland in a trade last Tuesday.
Fred VanVleet scored 20, Pascal Siakam added 18 and Chris Boucher had 15 to lead the Raptors, who lost their second straight game after an eight-game winning streak. Toronto shot 30.5 percent from the floor, including 23.5 percent on 3-pointers.
Article continues after this advertisementMcCollum had five points and an assist as New Orleans scored the first nine points of the third quarter to open a 69-44 lead.
VanVleet made three 3-pointers for Toronto’s first field goals of the period, but that got them within just 20 points.
The Pelicans led by as many as 26 points before holding a 94-69 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Valanciunas scored six points and McCollum had five as the Pelicans took a 15-4 lead against the cold-shooting Raptors.
The lead grew to 14 before VanVleet scored seven points to help Toronto pull within five points.
New Orleans scored the final seven points to take a 29-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Pelicans scored the first five points of the second quarter and led by 17 on two other occasions before the Raptors made a push.
Khem Birch’s dunk cut the lead to 12, but McCollum and Devonte’ Graham each made a 3-pointer as New Orleans took a 60-44 halftime lead.
