Pascal Siakam had 29 points (13 in the third quarter) and 10 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors beat the New Orleans Pelicans 105-101 for their sixth straight win.
Fred VanVleet’s step-back 3-pointer put the Raptors ahead for good with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The Pelicans got within 102-101 on Brandon Ingram’s driving layup with 1:20 to play, but Chris Boucher answered with a tip-in, and the Pelicans got no closer.
Khem Birch’s free throw with 5.7 seconds left made it 105-101 and put it away.
During clutch time, the Raptors outscored the Pelicans 14-12. VanVleet scored 9 of the Raptors’ 14 on 3 for 5 shooting. With 1:36 left, Siakam stole the ball from Devonte' Graham, and VanVleet’s step-back 3-pointer off it put the Raptors ahead 102-99.
VanVleet scored 32 points with 8 3-pointers.
For the Pelicans, Ingram scored 22 points, and Garrett Temple went 1 for 8 from 3. Jonas Valančiūnas had 20 points and 17 rebounds.
The Pelicans gave up 15 offensive rebounds, about 6 more than usual for the shots the Raptors missed. The Raptors outscored the Pelicans 16-6 in 5 minutes with Siakam, Boucher, Mykhailiuk, Achiuwa and Barnes on the floor together.