VanVleet leads Raptors to victory over Clippers in virtually empty Scotiabank Arena
The Toronto Raptors bid farewell to 2021 with a victory. It came in a near-empty arena that was almost befitting the end of another bizarre sports year in the COVID-19 era.
Now, they hope they've left their virus troubles behind them.
Fred VanVleet had 31 points and nine assists in his first game back from COVID-19 protocols, while Pascal Siakam had 25 points and tied a career high with 19 rebounds to lift the Raptors to a 116-108 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
On what would normally be a festive New Year's Eve affair, the Raptors played in a virtually spectator-free Scotiabank Arena due to Ontario's tightened COVID-19 restrictions.
But it's nothing the Raptors aren't used to.
"It was more normal than not, to be honest with you," VanVleet said. "I would say we probably played just as much if not more fanless basketball than we have in packed stadiums, so it is what it is.
"Fans or no fans, we've got to go out there and play basketball and do the best we can."
OG Anunoby added 26 points for Toronto (15-17).
Marcus Morris had 20 points to top the Clippers (18-18), who were missing head coach Tyronn Lue - he became the 10th head coach to enter COVID-19 protocols earlier Friday.
Chris Boucher and Svi Mykhailiuk are the only Raptors who've avoided COVID protocols. With the team nearly back at full strength, the players were optimistic.
"It's been a bit, right?" coach Nick Nurse said on the roller-coaster last couple of weeks.
The Raptors raced out to a 15-point lead, but a couple of sloppy quarters on the defensive end and poor three-point shooting saw them trailing 87-82 to start the fourth.
They regained the lead early in the quarter with a 12-4 run punctuated by a dunk and three-pointer by Anunoby.
Siakam's dunk with 1:34 to play had Toronto up 109-105, Terance Mann connected from long distance to make it a one-point game, then VanVleet connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put the game out of reach with 24 seconds left.
Nurse was happy to escape with a win.
"Are you excited about the way the team played tonight? Not especially," Nurse said. "But we made a step towards the re-gather ... accepting that it's not just going to be oh, we got our guys back, there's the wand you wave and we're going to be back to mid-season form we were in three weeks ago."
Siakam said "it felt good" to have the majority of the roster back playing. Rookie Scottie Barnes was sidelined with knee tendinitis.
"We missed those guys out there," Siakam said. "It felt good tonight to have most of us out there and just see what we could do."
With no fans in attendance except for a few dozen family members, the game was reminiscent of the 2020 NBA bubble in Florida.
The Ontario government announced Thursday that it was slashing crowd capacity due to skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in the province. The province trimmed the 50-per cent limit that went into effect two games earlier to a maximum of 1,000 people.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., went one further, announcing they would sell no tickets for Raptors or Maple Leafs games for three weeks beginning Friday.
The gaping 19,800-seat arena made for an almost fitting backdrop to send off the year.
Asked if playing in front of no fans would be weird, Brian Shaw - who filled in for Lue - said "I don't think anything is weird anymore."
The national anthems were broadcast via video, and canned applause played throughout the game. There was a video tribute for former Raptor Serge Ibaka that was met with silence. Glittery "Happy New Year!" messages flashed on the Jumbotron. The fourth quarter began with a prompt for fans to "MAKE SOME NOISE!"
The Raptors at least are accustomed to curve balls. Border restrictions and capacity limits in Toronto last season forced them to call Tampa, Fla., home, where they played many games in front of a smattering of fans.
"We've had to get ready to play in a lot of different venues," Nurse said before the game. "The main thing to keep in mind or in the forefront is that we're getting to go out there and play.
"I mean, listen, you think about it ... get disappointed when you hear the news come out, probably all wish it wasn't this way but it is and you've just got to get on with it."
The Raptors got off to a great start but the Clippers went on a 16-4 run that straddled the first and second quarters, closing to within 32-29 to end the first, and taking the lead early in the second.
Poor defence and terrible three-point shooting saw Toronto outscored 33-24 in the second quarter and L.A. went into halftime up 62-56.
VanVleet had 11 points in the third, including a running layup that tied the game with 3:41 left in the quarter.
The Raptors still have Isaac Bonga, plus hardship signees D.J. Wilson, Daniel Oturu and Juwan Morgan in protocols. The Clippers have four players sidelined because of protocols, including centre Ivica Zubac, who entered protocols on Thursday.
The NBA had about 120 players in health and safety protocols on Friday.
Some 97 per cent of NBA players are double vaccinated and at least two-thirds of players have received boosters.
The Raptors host New York on Sunday and San Antonio on Tuesday to cap their four-game homestand.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 122 active wildfires burning across Canada, 32 considered 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
Miller scores late as Canucks grind out 3-2 win over Oilers in Game 5
J.T. Miller scored in the final minute of the game and the Vancouver Canucks came back for a 3-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 5 of their second-round playoff series Thursday.
Think twice before sharing 'heartbreaking' social media posts, RCMP warn
Mounties in B.C. are urging people to think twice before sharing "heartbreaking posts" on social media.
Police issue Canada-wide warrant for Regina homicide suspect
Police have issued a Canada-wide warrant for a man wanted in a homicide which occurred in Regina on May 12.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
Speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.