DeMar DeRozan Rips Raptors For Last-Second Shot Attempt Following Ejection

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan was frustrated with the Toronto Raptors for attempting a late three-pointer in Friday's in-season tournament game

The Toronto Raptors must have missed the memo on their in-season tournament chances Friday night.

By the time Toronto’s third tournament game tipped off against the Chicago Bulls, the Raptors’ fate had already been decided. Two losses to the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks meant Toronto was eliminated from tournament contention before their third tournament game.

And yet, Pascal Siakam didn’t seem to know.

With three seconds left and a 12-point lead over the Bulls, Siakam attempted a three-pointer. It would have made sense had Toronto still had a chance in the tournament as the Raptors could have been vying for a better point differential. But by then, it was too late, and DeMar DeRozan let the Raptors know.

The Bulls’ All-Star began yelling at Toronto's bench following the shot attempt and was slapped with his second technical of the night, immediately leading to his ejection.

“I don’t care about no In-Season Tournament points, none of that. Just the respect for the game,” DeRozan said post-game.

DeRozan acknowledged he knew it was a tournament and in theory point differential counted. But he wasn’t having it as an excuse.

“Everybody was yelling at him, ‘score, score, score.’ Take the win. Get out of here,” DeRozan said. “If roles were reversed, needing In-Season Tournament points or not, just for the respect I have for my opponents, I hold the ball. Especially if there’s no shot clock. That’s just me.”

The Raptors acknowledged earlier in the tournament that they would be paying attention to point differential in tournament play. It’s why they weren’t upset when the Orlando Magic did the same thing in Toronto’s last game tournament, taking a last-second three-pointer to run up the score and add to their point differential.

As DeRozan walked off the court, he was embraced by Raptors president Masai Ujiri in the hallway. The two hugged briefly before DeRozan walked to the locker room.