The Chicago Bulls defeated the Toronto Raptors during their first game of the play-in tournament, and they got some help from DeMar DeRozan’s daughter in the process.
DeRozan, who played for the Raptors from 2009 until 2018 before he was eventually traded to land Kawhi Leonard, helped lead Chicago past Toronto in the must-win game with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
But perhaps the most impactful element he brought to the game was his 9-year-old daughter, Diar. She went viral for her loud screaming, which was heard on ESPN’s broadcast, whenever the Raptors were at the free-throw line.
Diar DeRozan deserved her own highlight reel tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nUMNKrGtVQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 13, 2023
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While we can’t say for sure whether it was just a cold shooting night or if Diar made a difference, the results are significant.
Toronto was 18-for-36 (50.0 percent) at the charity stripe Wednesday.
The real MVP 😂🏆@chicagobulls | @DeMar_DeRozan pic.twitter.com/PpOfYVY7x3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 13, 2023
This was far worse than their season average (78.4 percent) and the league average (78.2 percent) in 2022-23.
In fact, the Raptors didn’t shoot below 58.3 percent at the free-throw line in a single game this season and (even including the playoffs) they had not shot as poorly on free throws since March 2014.
"I said you can miss one day of school and come to a game… I'm glad I did."
Diar DeRozan's free throw distraction came up clutch for the Bulls tonight 🤣 pic.twitter.com/Z1EZvORC10
— NBA (@NBA) April 13, 2023
DeRozan, who didn’t initially recognize the screaming as his daughter’s but just wanted to make sure she was okay, said more after the game:
“You know, it’s crazy. My daughter called me the other day 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. I almost said no because she in school back home. She kept asking. She was adamant about coming to support and I just said that you can miss one day of school and come to a game. I’m glad I did. I owe her money from school.”
When asked if she was coming back, however, DeRozan said she had to go back to school.
That’s great news for the Heat, who face off against the Bulls on TNT at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and won’t have to deal with Diar’s menacing defensive strategy.
The winner will advance to play the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
