DeRozan shines, Toronto downs Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. DeMar DeRozan had 25 points and the shorthanded Toronto Raptors beat the Portland Trail Blazers 99-85 on Monday night.

The Blazers were foiled at home by a cold second quarter with just six total points and Toronto went on to lead by as many as 26. The win extended the Raptors’ winning streak over Portland to five straight games.

Damian Lillard had a season-high 36 points for the Blazers, who got within 13 in the final quarter. CJ McCollum, who had scored 20 or more points in each of Portland’s first six games this season, had 16.

Kyle Lowry added a seasonhigh 19 points and added 10 rebounds for the Raptors.

Toronto was without centre Serge Ibaka, who is averaging 15 points a game this season, because of swelling in his right knee. The knee started to bother him following a victory over the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday. Jacob Poetl took his place in the starting lineup.

The Raptors also missed Jonas Valanciunas for a fourth straight game with a left ankle sprain.

DeRozan had 15 points in the first quarter and the teams were knotted at 29 going into the second. DeRozan led the Raptors with 24 points in the 101-92 victory over the Lakers.

The Blazers went cold in the second quarter. Really cold. They went 0-for-16 from the field until Evan Turner’s layup with 5 seconds left before the half. Portland’s other four points in the quarter came from free throws and the Raptors led 54-35 at the break.

The Blazers’ six total points were a franchise low for the second quarter.

Lillard hit a pair of consecutive 3-pointers and a layup in the third quarter, but the Blazers couldn’t make up much ground. The Raptors led 81-61 going into the final period.