Raptors’ Fred VanVleet shows off ‘hockey’ smile after chipped tooth, stitches - Global News

Fred VanVleet looked more like a Toronto Maple Leaf than a Toronto Raptor after Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.READ MORE: Raptors a win away from taking NBA Finals after beating Warriors 105-92VanVleet took an elbow to the face in the fourth quarter of the Raptors’ 105-92 victory over the Warriors Friday, while trying to guard the Toronto basket. Warriors player Shaun Livingston fell back into VanVleet after leaping at the basket, striking him in the mouth with his elbow. The blow broke one of VanVleet’s front teeth.Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet, top, is hit in the face by Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston, left, during the second half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals in Oakland, Calif., Friday, June 7, 2019.AP Photo/Ezra ShawVanVleet lay on the court with blood streaming from a cut under his eye after the collision.He left the game briefly for treatment and returned a short time later with seven stitches and a broken tooth.Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet (23) remains on the floor during the second half of Game 4 of basketball’s NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, Calif., Friday, June 7, 2019.AP Photo/Tony Avelar
Story continues below“The stitches I can deal with,” he told reporters after the game. “I was more upset that I had the remnants of my teeth floating around in my mouth as I was laying there on the ground.”READ MORE: How the Toronto Raptors chose their name and the infamous ‘Barney jersey’ lookThe 25-year-old American laughed when a reporter compared his new gap-toothed grin to that of a hockey player’s.“If that’s what being Canadian is, I’m not sure I want it,” he said. “I don’t play hockey. I’ve got a lot of respect for those guys and what they do, but losing a tooth is not fun.”WATCH: Toronto celebrates with Raptors on the verge of a championship.NBA Finals: Raptors fans fill streets of Toronto following team’s huge Game 4 victory over Warriors

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June 08, 2019 at 09:37PM