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Pelicans vs. Raptors results: Siakam, VanVleet lead Toronto to opening-night OT win

Rudi Schuller

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Pelicans vs. Raptors results: Siakam, VanVleet lead Toronto to opening-night OT win image

A big night demands big performances, and that's what the Toronto Raptors got in their 2019-20 season opener.

The Raptors unveiled their championship rings and banner to commemorate their 2019 NBA title ahead of Tuesday's curtain-raiser against the New Orleans Pelicans, and then proceeded to show the basketball world why they are still very much a playoff contender. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet led the way with 34 points each as Toronto outlasted the Pelicans 130-122, with overtime required to determine a winner.

It was very much a game of runs, as the teams took turns hitting several shots in a row before going cold for minutes at a time. The rebuilt Pelicans, missing star rookie Zion Williamson through knee injury, relied on balanced scoring as 22-year-old Brandon Ingram led the way with 22 points for the visitors.

MORE: Raptors receive championship rings, unveil banner in Scotiabank Arena

Toronto, on the other hand, had the advantage of monster nights from Siakam and VanVleet. Siakam, who just signed a max extension this week, gave a glimpse of how dominant he could be all over the floor by adding 18 rebounds and five assists before fouling out in the last minute of the fourth quarter. Losing the Cameroonian didn't affect the defending champs, who still had VanVleet and Kyle Lowry (22 points) to see the game out in the extra frame.

Next up for Toronto is a trip to Boston Friday night to take on the Celtics.

Sporting News provided up-to-the-minute updates of all the action. Check out below to see how it all went down:

Raptors 130, Pelicans 122: Play-by-play, score, highlights of 2019-20 NBA season opener

Overtime

0:00 - That's it! The Raptors hold off a pesky Pelicans team to claim game No. 1 of the new season.

0:56 - Now it's Lowry's turn! The longest-serving Raptor nails a three and this one is over.

1:26 - VanVleet! Another three-pointer for him and Toronto takes a five-point lead.

2:06 - Tied at 122-a-piece. Lowry draws a foul from Lonzo Ball while shooting, steps to the line and hits both. Raps up two.

4:45 - Powell nails the first shot of OT.

Fourth quarter

0:00 - Raptors inbound at 8.9 seconds. Norm Powell grabs the ball and, after running down the clock, launches a LONG three. It bounces out, and we're headed for OT.

0:29 - Lowry hits a pair of free throws to tie it up 117-117. This one is going down to the wire, folks.

0:50 - Siakam fouls out with 34 points and 18 rebounds. Monster night for Toronto's new No. 1 scoring option.

1:19 - VanVleet corner three! That one comes right after the timeout, and FVV has a career-high 31 points.

1:28 - Timeout Toronto after Pelicans drill a three for a 115-112 lead.

2:14 - Another Pelicans challenge happens after Lowry is fouled on a 3-point attempt. New Orleans didn't want him shooting all three free throws, but that's exactly what happens. Lowry hits two of them.

2:51 - Siakam almost single-handedly gives the Raptors a 7-0 run and the lead. Spicy P has 14 points in the fourth quarter.

4:29 - Pelicans pull ahead by nine points after a Frank Jackson 3-pointer.

5:12 - Holiday's attempt two technical free throws in the past 33 seconds and missed both of them. 😐

6:63 - Another trey for Pascal. It's a 9-0 run for Toronto.

7:11 - Siakam now up to 26 points after drilling a three.

10:54 - Melli showing some good moves to shake a defender. These teams are trading leads now.

Third quarter

0:00 - Raptors led for much of that quarter, but the Pelicans have pulled back to within two. Fred VanVleet leads all scorers with 26 points.

2:39 - Pelicans make coach's challenge for a foul against Williams, and lose. Raptors lost their challenge in the first half.

7:04 - Siakam makes for his 19th and 20th points of the night. He joins VanVleet as Raptors with at least 20 so far.

8:51 - The Raptors honour hometown kid Alexander-Walker during a commercial timeout.

11:37 - VanVleet hits a finger roll, and he's got 17 points to his name.

Second quarter

0:00 - Turnovers have hurt the Raptors tonight, but they're within five as they head into the break.

0:43 - Reddick hits a three. Pelicans are 6-of-8 from distance in this quarter.

3:37 - Raptors have pulled to within three after Davis collected two offensive rebounds on the same play before putting back a layup.

5:56 - Ingram just made Lowry chase shadows. 😲

7:19 - The Pelicans have opened up an 11-point gap after another run to open a quarter.

10:33 - Offensive foul on Williams. Drawn by... you guessed it... Kyle Lowry.

10:56 - Anunoby hits the first shot of the second quarter. He's got seven points so far tonight.

First Quarter

0:00 - The quarter ends with New Orleans up 30-27. Seven Raptors turnovers led to 10 Pelicans points. 

3:02 - The Pelicans' Canadian rookie hits a three for his first NBA points. That puts an end to a 21-4 Raptors run.

4:16 - Alexander-Walker steps onto the court for the Pelicans. It's his NBA debut, in his hometown.

4:33 - Siakam hits two free throws. Raptors up 20-19.

5:09 - VanVleet lays it in off the glass and it's 19-18 Pelicans. Raptors are on a 14-4 run.

6:59 - Lowry hits a three. 17-12 Pelicans.

8:58 - Timeout Toronto. The Pelicans have hit three straight 3-pointers after OG Anunoby tied the game up at 4-4. It's currently 13-4 New Orleans.

10:17 - Anunoby hits a three for the first Raptors field goal of the season. 4-4 game.

12:00 - Tip-off. Pelicans get the first possession of the NBA season. 

Pre-game

7:59 p.m. - There it is. The banner 24 seasons in the making.

7:50 p.m. - Nice touch.

7:48 p.m. - The players certainly like them.

7:38 p.m. - The ring ceremony has begun. Players, coaches and execs are each getting one of these beauties:

7:32 p.m. - And here's the Pelicans' starters:

7:27 p.m. - Here's the first starting lineup of the season for the Raptors:

6:33 p.m. - There's a Canadian on the Pelicans' roster. Rookie Nickeil Alexander-Walker is hoping to make his NBA debut in his hometown tonight.

6:23 p.m. - The Raptors are feeling the love from their fellow Toronto sports teams.

6:16 p.m. - How will the Raptors cope without Kawhi Leonard this season? SN's Tommy McArdle lists the three best candidates to fill the void left behind by Leonard's departure to the Clippers.

Rudi Schuller