TORONTO — As Fred VanVleet stepped up to the free throw line with 52 seconds remaining in the third quarter of Wednesday's play-in game between the Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors, the home crowd went silent as the Raptors guard took a few hard dribbles and spun the ball in his hands, preparing to shoot.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Clank. For two-plus hours, the sound pierced the ears of the sold-out crowd, those watching at home and the Raptors players themselves each time one stepped up to the free throw line.
The wail of 9-year-old Diar DeRozan echoing throughout Scotiabank Arena, she timed each shriek with devastating efficacy. It was perhaps the best free throw defense in history.
The Raptors subsequently shot 18-for-36 (50%) at the line, paving the way for Chicago's 109-105 comeback victory. It was their worst free throw shooting performance of the season and the most misses in an elimination game since 1969.