NBA: Toronto Raptors defeat New Orleans Pelicans in season opener

NBA 2019-20 season opened with Toronto Raptors prevailing over New Orleans Pelicans with a 130-122 overtime victory. match took place on Wednesday, October 23 at 5:30 am IST at  Scotiabank Arena in Ontario, Canada. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet scored 34 points each for Toronto Raptors, while Brandon Ingram was New Orleans Pelicans high-point scorer for opening game with 22 points. 

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NBA: Toronto Raptors vs New Orleans Pelicans match report

With Derrick Favors and Brandon Ingram earning early points,  New Orleans Pelicans, had a well-maintained lead after game started. However, Vanvleet, OG Anuby, Pascal Siakam and Kyle Lowry closed deficit by time Q1 came to an end. Pelicans even gained a 25-19 lead, but Toronto Raptors made a comeback, ending Q1 with a three-point lead. Pelicans played well as first half progressed, even gaining a 52-46 lead with around three minutes left to go. Ingram, as well as Lonzo Ball, earned crucial points for Pelicans as first-half ended with a 61-56 advant to New Orleans Pelicans.

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Q3 began with Vanvleet scoring early points for his team. teams picked up ir pace, delivering back-to-back three-pointers and trying to establish a lead. Ingram and Vanvleet continued to drain threes, and Q3 ended with Raptors having an 88-86 advant. Vanvleet, Lowry and Siakam scored back-to-back points as second half came to an end, match going into overtime with a 117-117. Marc Gasol's five points and Lowry's three-point shot with under a minute to go earned Raptors a 130-122 victory. JJ Redick and Jrue Holiday scored five points Pelicans earned during overtime. 

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