DeRozan and Lowry Continue Toronto Raptors' Win Streak, Down Kings 102-87
Sacramento Kings forward Skal Labissiere, left, is defended by Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors at Golden 1 Center. Publicity Agents photo art by T. Ray Harvey. Dec. 10, 2017.
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Sacramento, Calif. –The Toronto Raptors pushed their winning streak to six games by defeating the Sacramento Kings 102-87 on the road during a Sunday matinee at Golden 1 Center.
The Raptors’ victory breaks a four-game losing streak in Sacramento.
DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors (17-7) with 25 points, nine assists, and three rebounds and Serge Ibaka added 20 points, four rebounds, one blocked shot and made three 3-pointers. Kyle Lowry had 15 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in nearly 35 minutes.
“Hats off to them. I really like this team,” said Kings head coach Dave Joerger. “We struggled to score the basketball and our turnovers were a big Achilles heel for us. Their veterans all-stars were terrific for them and kind of handled the game.”
Zach Randolph had 19 points, 11 rebounds, one assists, and one steal while reserve shooting guard Buddy Hield added 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 15 points, including four 3-pointers.
The Kings (8-17) lost their third-consecutive contest at home. De’Aaron Fox had six points and seven turnovers for the Kings, who committed 21 turnovers. Obviously, the rookie didn’t show his best, but he was impressed with DeRozan and Lowry.
“Kyle is a great player, even when he’s not scoring a lot,” Fox said. “(He’s) not making mistakes. I’m just trying to get to that level. They played a hell of a game. DeMar played great, Serge made shots, and defensively they just kept us out the lane.”
The Raptors made 7 of 8 shots to open up with a 17-2 run in the first quarter. The Kings were saved by the bench, again, as they scored 12 of the team’s 17 points in the first quarter and played much better defense. Toronto led 22-17 after the first 12 minutes.
The Kings came back to tie the game twice in the first half, the second at 31-31 when Randolph made a 17-foot fadeaway at the 7:26 mark of the second quarter. The Raptors got back on track and took off to a 17-8 run and held on to a 54-46 lead at the break.
The Kings pulled within two points early in the third quarter on two free throws by Skal Labissiere, but the Raptors were able to stretch the margin to outscore the Kings 20-8, completed with two free throws by DeRozan late in the frame.
The Kings never got closer than seven points of the Raptors margin in the fourth quarter. Toronto is liking the way its offense is clicking in the last six games, all victories, including the last two wins on the road.
“It’s coming along well,” DeRozan said of the winning streak. “We’re getting more and more comfortable. The ball movement is getting better and guys are getting better handling the ball, pushing the ball in transition. Everybody’s getting a feel for the offense. That’s a good thing and we still have a long ways to go.”
Publicity Agents OpticalVision. Footage by T. Ray Harvey
PUBLIC INFORMATION:
Sacramento Kings:
The Kings announced on Dec. 9 that the team recalled forwards Skal Labissiere and Justin Jackson and guard Malachi Richardson from the team’s G-League affiliate Reno Bighorns. Labissiere, who was in the starting lineup before making a run east up 1-80, started against the Raptors.
Jackson entered the game in the first quarter after the Kings fell behind 17-3 to the Raptors.
Willie Cauley-Stein sat out his third-straight game with a strained lower back. The Kings staff says he is improving each day and his return is “imminent.” The training staff will have more of an indication of his status following practice on Monday.
Toronto Raptors:
Dwane Casey coached his 500th game for the Raptors against the Kings. He is the longest serving coach in franchise history with seven seasons on the ledger. Casey overall record is 277-222 with a winning percentage at 55 percent.
“Yeah, it’s been a long journey,” DeMar DeRozan said of his coach. “It’s a testament to him sticking to all his guns and understanding the principles that he came in here with.”
DeMar DeRozan scored his sixth point on a free throw with 3:27 left in the second quarter to reach 12,000 points with one team. He now has 12,019 points in his NBA career.
During the Raptors five-game winning streak, the team was averaging 120 points, 13.0 three-pointers, and .45 percent shooting from the field. Toronto scored 102 points against the Kings and made 11 shots behind the arc. The Raptors made 39 of 87 from the floor at 44.8 percent.
On The Marquee
Sacramento Kings: Host Phoenix Suns on Dec. 12.
Toronto Raptors: On road against Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 11.
By T. Ray Harvey | PA Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist
Twitter: Tony Ray Harvey @PublicityAgents
T. Ray (Antonio) Harvey is a Public Information Officer and Photographic Artist for Publicity Agents. Harvey is also the author of The HOMICIDAL HANDYMAN OF OAK PARK: MORRIS SOLOMON JR.
