DeMar DeRozan's daughter, Diar DeRozan, became the unsung hero of the Bulls' play-in victory

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. Toronto All-Star Pascal Siakam, a career 78% free throw shooter, had a chance to tie the score with 12 seconds left after being fouled by Bulls guard Alex Caruso on a 3-point attempt, but missed two of three.

«I kept hearing something during the game during free throws,» Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan said after the game. «I looked back like… dang, that's my daughter screaming.»

Diar DeRozan had actually talked her way into sitting in the stands. With the Bulls headed to Toronto, where DeRozan spent the first nine years of his career, Diar asked her father if she could skip a day of school to come along, recalling her memories of growing up and going to games here.

FridayThunder at Timberwolves, 9:30 p.m.

SaturdayNets at 76ers, 1 p.m.Hawks at Celtics, 3:30 p.m.Knicks at Cavaliers, 6 p.m.Warriors at Kings, 8:30 p.m.