Chicago’s secret weapon! DeMar DeRozan’s daughter CREAMS every time the Raptors step to the free throw line as Toronto misses 18 in the Bulls’ comeback win
- Diar DeRozan made her voice heard as the Raptors attempted free throws
- Toronto shot as much as 50 percent from the line, missing 18 of 36 shots
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Chicago’s epic comeback against the Toronto Raptors might not have happened if DeMar DeRozan had left her daughter Diar at school.
Instead, DeRozan’s daughter went along to her father’s old stamping ground at the Scotiabank Center in Toronto. DeMar, who now plays for the Bulls, helped his team make a big comeback to defeat the Raptors and advance in the play-in tournament.
Part of that reason may be how bad Toronto did shooting from the free throw line – and Diar played a big part in that.
The youngster screamed her heart out every time the Raptors shot a free throw and the results speak for themselves.
Toronto shot a dismal 18-of-36 (50 percent) from the charity streak – also late in the game when Pascal Siakam missed two of three free throws in the closing seconds. The Raptors averaged 78.4 percent from the free throw line this season.
DeMar DeRozan took his daughter Diar to the Bulls’ play-in game against Toronto
Diar helped Chicago by screaming during Toronto’s free throws as the Raptors shot only 50%
Diar’s performance didn’t go unnoticed – as she was highlighted on the ESPN broadcast and on an alternate broadcast by longtime ESPN NBA reporter and First Take host Stephen A. Smith.
Toronto shoots [badly] from the free-throw line, because she screams every time they shoot,” Smith noted.
After the game, DeMar revealed how close he was to keeping her home because she had to go to school.
“You know it’s crazy, my daughter called me the other day when she got home from school,” DeRozan explained. “And she said, ‘Dad, can I come to the game in Toronto,’ I remember [her] coming to all games in Toronto when she was a kid.
“I almost said no because she’s at home at school. She kept asking, she was adamant to come and support [us].
And I said, “Okay, you can miss a day of school and come to a game,” and I’m glad I did. I certainly owe her some money.’
Diar’s performance was praised all over the internet – including Stephen A. Smith
DeMar finished the night with 23 points, seven rebounds and three assists in the win.
The Bulls now travel to Miami to face the Heat in the final play-in tournament game to decide the eighth seed, but Diar will not be joining him.
‘No, she has to go back to school. School [comes] first,” DeRozan said.
The winner of that Bulls-Heat game will then advance to the playoffs and face the Milwaukee Bucks.