Raptors forward Pascal Siakam scored a career-high 52 points Wednesday night to lead Toronto over New York 113-106. Here’s what you need to know:
- Siakam’s previous career high was 44, reached three times, most recently in May 2021.
- He reached the total on 17-of-25 shooting and a career-high 16 free throws on 18 attempts.
- The Raptors win snaps a six-game losing streak.
- The Knicks loss snaps an eight-game winning streak, the longest in the NBA.
Pascal Siakam set a career high with 52 points in a Raptors’ 113-106 win over the Knicks, snapping its eight-game winning streak ????
Siakam in New York:
◽️ 52 PTS
◽️ 9 REB
◽️ 7 AST pic.twitter.com/0UNP9L1epl— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) December 22, 2022
Siakam’s dominant season continues
Siakam’s season has been building to this. Even while the Raptors have been struggling, losing six games in a row and justifiably beginning conversations about whether this team should trade key players, Siakam has been sensational this year.
This was his 11th time this year posting at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in a game. That they’re only 6-5 in those games reveals how little help he has been receiving. The Raptors already lost when Siakam posted a 37-12-11 line in Brooklyn and a 38-15-6 line in Philadelphia.
Factoring in his defense, Siakam has been one of the best 10 or 15 players in the league this year. — Koreen
Could he have gone for the franchise record?
Siakam’s previous career-high was 44, which he had accomplished three times. On this night, he probably could have gone for more had he been a little more selfish.
After checking back into the game with 7:36 remaining in the fourth quarter, Siakam took just two of the Raptors’ final 15 shots. A few free throws and a late and-one allowed him to join Vince Carter, Terrence Ross, DeMar DeRozan and Fred VanVleet as the only Raptors to ever score 50 or more points. VanVleet has the franchise record of 54. — Koreen
Key stat
Siakam’s 52 points are the most by an opponent at Madison Square Garden since James Harden scored 61 on January 23, 2019. Siakam is the fifth player in Raptors history to record a 50-point game, and the first since VanVleet scored a franchise record 54 on February 2, 2021.
Required reading
(Photo: Joe Murphy / NBAE via Getty Images)
