Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images
The Chicago Bulls’ most valuable performer in their 109-105 play-in tournament win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday evening didn’t play a single second.
Diar DeRozan, the daughter of Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, let out piercing screams when the Raptors went to the free-throw line. The record shows that Toronto missed half of their 36 free throws in a four-point loss.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Diar DeRozan deserved her own highlight reel tonight 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nUMNKrGtVQ
ESPN @espn
DeMar’s daughter is screaming whenever the Raptors take free throws 😂 pic.twitter.com/HxmMz3BYgq
The Raptors entered this game making 78.4 percent of their free throws. They also shot below 60 percent just once in 82 regular-season games (7-of-12 on Feb. 3 against the Memphis Grizzlies).
However, the free-throw line proved disastrous for the Raptors, who had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds after Pascal Siakam was fouled on a three-point shot with Toronto down 107-104.
He made the first but missed the next two. Chicago’s Nikola Vučević hit both of his on the other end, effectively icing the game for the Bulls.
That capped a remarkable comeback for the Bulls, who were down by as many as 19 before they chipped away at the lead. Chicago was sensational from the line, going 18-of-22. Zach LaVine hit 13 of his 15 shots from the charity stripe en route to a game-high 39 points.
DeRozan scored 23 points in his return to Toronto, where he made four All-Star teams in nine seasons (2009-18) and helped lead the franchise to perennial postseason contention.
He spoke about his daughter’s distractions postgame:
James Herbert @outsidethenba
DeMar DeRozan on Diar DeRozan’s free-throw defense: “Somebody missed. I look back, I’m like, ‘Damn, that’s my daughter?'”
Also: “I just seen it. She went viral.” pic.twitter.com/JHnlUXBsjv
Twitter loved DeRozan’s free-throw defense tactics.
sreekar @sreekyshooter
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Raptors went 18-36 from the foul line tonight
🗣 Diar DeRozan is the real MVP pic.twitter.com/C3dzaVSXZ1
sean yoo @SeanYoo
NBA players when they find out Diar Derozan is in attendance pic.twitter.com/PShn9T4cPQ
Alexis Morgan @alexismorgan
The Raptors shot a 78.5FT% during the regular season and shot 50FT% in this must-win game, missing 18 free throws. Diar DeRozan is the sixth man of this game. pic.twitter.com/DvSQKDt47t
Russ’ TD ⚡ @RussFcb
Diar DeRozan vs The Toronto Raptors in a win or go home game:
36/36 screams
18 missed freethrows allowed
Held Raptors to 50% freethrows
Played all 48 minutesAre we witnessing a generation talent pic.twitter.com/HORL1qEoNn
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
– Diar DeRozan https://t.co/7H6Ta03ExZ
670 The Score @670TheScore
Diar DeRozan just caused the Raptors to have their most missed FTs in a game since 1997😳
NEED her in Miami on Friday night pic.twitter.com/rJSOhOYcNb
sreekar @sreekyshooter
The Raptors players might never recover from what Diar DeRozan just did to them. That scream is gonna haunt them in their sleep. They’ll get horror flashbacks when they’re at home and hear a smoke alarm go off
Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau
Diar DeRozan’s screams are so effective because she times them so perfectly.
15 missed free throws & counting for the Raptors.
Ricky O’Donnell @SBN_Ricky
She was screaming from the first free throws of the game. She was screaming when the Bulls were down 19. She was screaming when Siakam missed the free throws to tie the game late.
Full 48 minute performance from Diar DeRozan. Masterclass in being annoying https://t.co/Ufq6KZfZUg
Adam Hoge @AdamHoge
Diar DeRozan winning a play-in game is the perfect thing to happen in this Bulls season
Jasmine @JasmineLWatkins
*Raptors attempt a free throw
MVP Diar DeRozan: pic.twitter.com/CUR3Jf35ee
Goat Jordan @GOATJordan_23
Diar DeRozan just put in the best bulls postseason performance since Michael Jordan’s game 6 of the 1998 Finals
Rev. Deek Schlong & The Low Vibrational Hardmen @DrJBProblematyk
Nobody
Absolutely not a soul
Diar DeRozan everytime the Raptors shoot a free throw pic.twitter.com/5CADGQfp2v
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Diar DeRozan vs. the Raptors pic.twitter.com/ElJNNJAzpR
Keerthika Uthayakumar @keerthikau
Raptors ended up missing 18 free throws tonight, the 2nd most they’ve missed in a game in franchise history.
It’s their most missed free throws in a game since they missed 19 against Milwaukee on February 14th, 1997. pic.twitter.com/3CWswNS7Ks
Katie Heindl @wtevs
imagine a child you knew when they were a baby, years later, making eye contact with you as you took a deep breath at the free throw line then shredded your soul with the screech of an eagle
Diar will not be in attendance when the Bulls visit the Miami Heat on Friday for the right to make the Eastern Conference playoffs as a No. 8 seed and play the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. DeMar told reporters postgame that she needs to go back to school.
Gametime in Miami is 7 p.m. ET.
