Scottie Barnes Acknowledges DeMar DeRozan's Daughter May Have Effected Raptors

The Toronto Raptors acknowledged they could hear DeMar DeRozan's daughter screaming and she may have impacted the team's free throw shooting

John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

For all the attention the Toronto Raptors paid to DeMar DeRozan on Wednesday night, it may have been DeRozan's daughter that truly cost Toronto.

Pascal Siakam didn't want to admit the nine-year-old had an impact on his free throw shooting but it's hard to imagine she didn't. Every time Toronto attempted a free throw, DeRozan's daughter, Diar, let out a piercing scream.

The Raptors heard it. They've admitted that.

But did it impact them?

It depends on who you ask.

"She was yelling. Trying to figure out who it was. Just heard somebody screaming and I was like, ‘who was that?’ I was like, ‘OK.’ I don’t really know if it had an effect," said Scottie Barnes who shot 4-for-7 from the free throw line. "We went 18-for-36, so it had to have an effect somewhat. She did a great job."

Chris Boucher said he didn't realize it was DeRozan's daughter screaming until after the game when he checked his phone and saw she went viral.

As for Siakam, who at first said he wasn't aware of the screaming on Wednesday night, acknowledged Thursday that he had heard her.

"We played enough games where there are opposite fans or people doing stuff at the free throw line," he said.

DeRozan said he initially didn't realize it was his daughter screaming during the game until someone missed a free throw and he clued in. Unfortunately for Bulls fans, though, Diar has to go back to school and won't be in Miami for Chicago's second must-win play-in game on Friday.

Further Reading

Raptors season ends at free throw line as 2nd half collapse proves costly vs Bulls

Raptors talk Jakob Poeltl's impact & bench confidence as play-in vs. Bulls nears

Raptors discuss slowing DeMar DeRozan & O.G. Anunoby's defense ahead of play-in game