Siakam leads Raptors past Pelicans 115-110

The Toronto Raptors made the most of the all-star break without losing any of their momentum.

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors made the most of the all-star break without losing any of their momentum.

Pascal Siakam, Toronto’s only all-star this season, scored 26 points to help the Raptors fend off the New Orleans Pelicans 115-110 on Thursday as both teams returned from the break. It was Toronto’s sixth win in seven games as the Raptors claw their way back into the NBA Eastern Conference’s post-season picture.

“We need these wins in order to try to make this deep playoff push,” said Scottie Barnes, who finished with 18 points. “So every game is very important to us.

“We’ve just got to keep trying to win and play hard every time we step on the floor.”

Jakob Poeltl had a double-double with 21 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for the Raptors (29-31). Poeltl was traded to Toronto from San Antonio ahead of the NBA’s trade deadline on Feb. 9.

He said he needed the all-star break to rest and regroup after his move back to the Raptors, where he started his career in 2016.

“It’s a weird experience getting traded and not really having time to get your life situated, because you’re just starting with basketball right away,” said Poeltl. “But from a basketball point of view, it has been great.

“First game was a little bit like getting thrown in the deep end but then every game I feel like I’m getting more and more comfortable.”