Pascal Siakam was absolutely terrific in the Toronto Raptors' 125-113 blowout win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
The Pistons had little resistance for Siakam, who exploded in the third quarter for 19 of his game-high 30 points. It was the third time this season Siakam had gone for at least 30 points — the most in the NBA this year.
His head coach, Nick Nurse, showed his appreciation for what Siakam has done so far this season and added he's becoming primetime.
"He's turning into a primetime scorer," Nurse told reporters post-game.
In five games this season, Siakam is averaging 28.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists on 51% shooting from the field and 44% from three. He's not just scoring, he's doing it efficiently.
“When he started for 38 games or something like that (as a rookie), he did a great job of learning, picking up; the last thing I said was gonna come was shooting,” former Raptor head coach Dwane Casey said before the game, talking about Siakam's growth.
“And it came because the young man worked. If any young men out there looking to use an example of making yourself a player, you’ve got him as an example.
"Because he worked on his shooting, worked on his shooting, now he’s one of the top 3-point shooting power forwards — or whatever position you want to call it — in the league.”
.@pskills43's goin' off!
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) October 31, 2019
19 in the 3rd. 30 total. pic.twitter.com/eZ0arwAiSP
The burden of being the go-to man doesn't seem to be bothering Siakam through the first five games of the season. In fact, the Raptors' leading scorer is finding comfort with being the man. The early success hasn't stopped the 25-year-old from critiquing his play, though. Early foul trouble and turnovers are the two points of improvement for Siakam if you want to nitpick the budding All-Star.
Coming into Wednesday's game, Siakam was averaging 4.5 fouls per game and 4.0 turnovers. He's aware he can't be sitting with fouls and that the extra touches doesn't give him the licences to turn the rock over.
"I hoped today would be my first no turnover game of the year," Siakam said postgame, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "I wish I didn't have those two. I think I did a better job with the fouls but I wish had no turnovers."
Siakam and the Raptors now turn their attention to an Eastern Conference Finals rematch with the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday night — the Raptors' first true test against a contender this season.
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