DeRozan carries Raptors past Nuggets
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E-mail Xinhua, November 1, 2016
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DeRozan goes up for a basket in the game. |
Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points in the team's 105-102 comeback victory over Denver Nuggets in NBA action on Monday.
After leading by 19 points in the second quarter, Raptors surrendered the lead and trailed 99-93 at the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
DeRozan and teammate Kyle Lowry scored all of the team's final twelve points to complete the comeback and improve the team's record to 2-1 on the young season.
Lowry finished with 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, while DeRozan recorded his third straight game of 30-plus points. The 27-year-old opened the season with 40 points against Detroit on Oct. 26 and added 32 points in a losing effort against Cleveland on Oct. 28.
Incredibly, DeRozan has yet to score a three-point basket this season, making him the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2005 to begin a season with 30-plus points in three consecutive games without a three-pointer.
"His offensive force that he's been playing with has been unreal," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey following the victory. "DeMar is playing at a very high level offensively. His leadership has been big time."
Through three games, the Los Angeles native is averaging 35.0 points a game, tied for third best in the league with Portland's Damian Lillard. They trail only Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (38.7) and New Orleans' Anthony Davis (37.7), who have both scored 50-plus points in a game this season.
DeRozan is currently in the first year of the second biggest contract in NBA history. The two-time All-Star signed a five-year 139 million U.S. dollar deal in the offseason to remain in Toronto.
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