The Chicago Bulls have a new candidate for Sixth Man of The Year.
DeMar DeRozan’s daughter.
The Raptors hosted the Bulls for Wednesday’s play-in game at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, but it felt like a road game for the Raptors at the free throw line.
DeRozan’s daughter Diar screamed from the crowd every time the Raptors shot free throws. Her screams were not only loud – they were picked up on ESPN’s broadcast – they proved to be effective. Toronto shot 50% from the line, going 18-for-36, compared to the Bulls shooting 18-for-22 from the free throw line.
“They need to put her on the payroll,” ESPN play–by–play announcer Mark Jones said.
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Toronto’s 18 missed free throws proved to be pivotal. The Raptors led by as many as 19 points before Zach LaVine and DeRozan led the Bulls on a fourth-quarter run to take the lead and win the game 109-105.
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With the Bulls up 107-104 with 12 seconds left in regulation, Alex Caruso fouled Pascal Siakam during a 3-point attempt. Siakam made one free throw, but missed the next two. Nikola Vucevic rebounded the ball and was fouled. He hit both his free throws to seal the Bulls’ win.
Chicago will play the Miami Heat on Friday for the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.
LaVine finished with 39 points, DeRozan had 23 points and Jones said his daughter Diar deserved a “game ball.” Diar gave her dad a high-five after the win.
“My daughter called me the other day when she was getting out of school and she just said ‘dad can I come to the Toronto game? I remember going to all the Toronto games’ when she was a kid,” DeRozan, who spent nine seasons with the Raptors, said. “I almost said no because she’s in school back home. She kept asking, she was just adamant about coming to support.
“I just said all right, you can miss one day of school and come to a game. I’m glad I did (let her attend). I owe her some money for sure.”
