Trail Blazers-Raptors Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 02 2013 12:20AM

Although the Toronto Raptors haven't defeated the Portland Trail Blazers in almost five years, they figure to give them all they can handle this time around if their recent efforts are any indication.

Seeking an eighth victory in nine games, Toronto tries to avoid a ninth consecutive loss to visiting Portland as these teams square off Wednesday night.

Since pulling out a 116-109 double-overtime win over the Trail Blazers (16-14) on Jan. 13, 2008, the Raptors (11-20) have been outscored by an average of 10.8 points in dropping the last eight matchups in this series. Despite holding Portland to 0 for 20 from 3-point range, Toronto saw those woes continue with a 92-74 road defeat Dec. 10, losing Andrea Bargnani to a ligament tear in his right elbow in the process.

While most assumed Bargnani's injury would set back the Raptors, who were 4-18 at the time, even more, his absence has instead allowed others to step up. Toronto enters the new year having won seven of eight while holding opponents to an average of 91.9 points - significantly lower than its season mark of 99.8.

The Raptors are coming off Saturday's 123-88 rout at Orlando. DeMar DeRozan had 21 points while Jose Calderon scored 15 to go along with 10 assists for Toronto, which went 15 for 27 from beyond the arc and shot a season-high 56.1 percent.

"We've had a lot of bad luck early in the season with injuries and close games so it's desperation time every time we step on the court," said DeRozan, who scored 30 the night before in a 104-97 overtime win at New Orleans. "When we make the game fun, everybody's confidence gets high and it feels like we can't be stopped."

Ed Davis also came up big with 18 points Saturday while Kyle Lowry and Terrence Ross added 16 apiece off the bench. Alan Anderson, averaging 15.3 points over the last seven games, chipped in 11.

"We don't have any Kobes or LeBrons who just go out and win games for us, we've got to do it as a team," Calderon said. "When we do that, we're pretty good."

The Raptors, who open a season-high six-game homestand Wednesday, have taken four in a row on their own court - their longest such run since putting together eight consecutive victories Jan. 17-Feb. 10, 2010.

The Blazers, meanwhile, kicked off their four-game trek in impressive fashion Tuesday, winning 105-100 at New York. Nicolas Batum made 6 of 12 from beyond the arc and finished with 26 points while rookie sensation Damian Lillard scored 21. LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 and 14 boards as the Blazers improved to 8-2 over their last 10 games.

"This was big time for us. I think we're gaining confidence every day," said Lillard, who leads all first-year players in scoring at 18.4 per game. "Every day that we see ourselves on film, we see the improvements that we've been making and we're getting better. We're starting to trust each other more and we're jelling a lot better than we were and it's showing."

Aldridge in particular has given the Raptors fits of late. The formidable big man had 30 points and 12 boards in last month's matchup and is averaging 33.3 and 15.0, respectfully, in his last three games in this series.

The Blazers have gone 4-0 as the visiting team when scoring at least 103 points but are just 1-10 when failing to reach that mark. They're averaging 95.3 points in opposing arenas.

Ross scores 26 points, Raptors beat Trail Blazers

By IAN HARRISON
Posted Jan 02 2013 10:51PM

TORONTO (AP) The last time they played Portland, the Toronto Raptors were at their worst. On Wednesday night, they showed just how much they've turned things around.

Terrence Ross scored a career-high 26 points, DeMar DeRozan had 24 and the Raptors snapped an eight-game losing streak against Portland by beating the Trail Blazers 102-79.

"This team beat us by a lot last time," Ross said. "We had to get our revenge."

Ross and the Raptors were bent on reversing what happened in their most recent meeting with the Blazers: an 18-point loss at Portland on Dec. 10, the final game in an 0-5 road trip in which starters Kyle Lowry and Andrea Bargnani left injured, Amir Johnson was ejected for throwing his mouthguard at a referee and the Blazers won despite setting an NBA record for shooting futility, missing all 20 of their 3-point attempts.

"They hit bottom when they came to Portland," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said before the rematch.

Things sure have changed. This was Toronto's eighth win in nine games, a surge that has wiped out talk of coaching changes and locker room discord.

"That was one of our low points of the season," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said of the December blowout in Oregon. "Two star players getting hurt, everybody kind of looking at each other crossways, the whole organization, everybody talking about firings.

"That was a crossroads for us," Casey continued. "Our guys looked in the mirror, we all did, and decided `Hey, we can't continue this way.' We started playing the game the right way, sharing the basketball, putting more focus on the defensive end. "We're a totally different team today, with our approach, than we were then."

Ed Davis had 19 points and Amir Johnson 17 in Toronto's first victory over the Trail Blazers since a 116-109 double-overtime win on Jan. 13, 2008.

Ross had a career-best six 3-pointers as the Raptors opened their season-high six-game homestand in style, never trailing and leading by as many as 25.

"They were a lot more aggressive," Portland's Damian Lillard said. "Guys were in attack mode from start to finish. They played with a lot of confidence. They've been on a streak and you can tell that they're starting to believe."

Davis and DeRozan were the only two starters to score for the Raptors. Along with Landry Field (seven points), Johnson and Ross, no other Toronto player scored until the fourth quarter.

Jose Calderon had 13 assists and Kyle Lowry had nine for Toronto.

"We owed them a little bit," Calderon said.

Lillard led Portland with 18 points while LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Wesley Matthews had 12 points and Nicolas Batum scored 10 for the Trail Blazers, who were coming off a 105-100 victory at New York on Tuesday night.

"This is a different team," Batum said of the Raptors. "This is not the same team I saw (in December). It's crazy when I watched the video this morning and then watched the game tonight. This is a new team."

Toronto jumped out to a 10-0 lead and led 24-17 after one thanks to 10 points each from Davis and DeRozan.

"We didn't play well from the opening tip," Stotts said. "We were on our heels the whole night."

Ross hit 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions midway through the second, then made his fourth on a buzzer beating shot to give Toronto a 55-39 lead at the half.

"People think he's just athletic but he can do a lot of things," Calderon said of Ross. "He's getting more confidence out there and he's doing more things every day."

Davis scored nine points in the third and DeRozan had eight as the Raptors took a 78-61 edge into the final quarter.

NOTES: Ross's previous career-high was 19, set Nov. 27 at Houston. ... Bargnani remains sidelined with a torn ligament in his right elbow. Casey said Bargnani must undergo another MRI before the team sets a timetable for his return. There is currently no date for that exam. ... Toronto F Linas Kleiza (sore right knee) did not dress. ... Lillard was named rookie of the month for December after leading all rookies in scoring with 18.4 points per game. ... Portland assistant Jay Triano was Toronto's head coach from 2008 to 2011.

Notebook: Raptors 102, Trail Blazers 79

Duane Watson, For NBA.com
Posted Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:38 PM - Updated Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:38 PM

THE FACTS: The Toronto Raptors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers102-79 at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night for their fifth straight home win. The Raptors led wire-to-wire, starting the game on a 20-8 run and never looked back, widening the margin by as many as 25 points.

Shooting the ball at 53.9 percent, coupled with great ball movement, keyed the Raptors (12-20) to their eighth win in nine games. Toronto was led by rookie Terrence Ross' career-high 26 points off the bench, on a career-best 6-for-9 shooting from the 3-point line. DeMar DeRozan added 24 points, Ed Davis scored 19 with seven rebounds and Amir Johnson added 17 points off the bench, while Jose Calderon had a game-high 13 assists.

The Raptors dominated the first half 55-39, behind Ross' 13 points where he went 4-for-5 from the 3-point line in the second quarter. They pushed the lead during the third, taking an 11-2 run with less than six minutes left in the quarter, ending it 78-61. Not letting up, they widened the margin to as many as 25 in the fourth en route to their eighth home win of the season.

December's Rookie of the Month, Damian Lillard, led Portland (16-15) with 18 points and seven assists. LaMarcus Aldridge had a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Wesley Matthews added 12 points off the bench.

QUOTABLE: "We know what it takes now. So, all we have to do is keep working hard, putting extra work, playing defense and good things start to happen."

-- Raptors rookie Terrence Ross on the difference between the Raptors now and earlier in December

THE STAT: The Raptors had 34 assists on 41 made field goals. Their ability to share the ball was key as Toronto's point guard tandem of Calderon and Kyle Lowry dished out 22 assists, 13 and nine, respectively. Remarkably, they didn't score a single point with both guards only taking three field goals between them.

TURNING POINT: The Raptors started the game on a 20-8 run and never relinquished the lead. They kept it at double digits for much of the second half and stretched it to as many as 25 points in the fourth quarter for a wire-to-wire win.

HOT: Ross had a career-high game, but his first-half play of 13 points in 10 minutes in the second quarter (shooting 4-for-5 from behind the arc) provided a sparkplug off the bench,

NOT: Looking very unlike the Rookie of the Month for December, Lillard couldn't get his team going in the first half. He shot 2-for-6 from the field with four rebounds, two assists and five turnovers, to go along with his seven points.

UP NEXT: For the Raptors, Friday vs. Sacramento, Sunday vs. Oklahoma City, Wednesday vs. Philadelphia. For the Trail Blazers, Friday @ Brooklyn, Saturday @ Minnesota and Monday vs. Orlando.

• Trail Blazers: Leonard, Williams
• Raptors: Bargnani, Valanciunas

• Trail Blazers: --
• Raptors: Acy

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• Officials: #15 Bennett Salvatore, #31 Scott Wall, #75 Eric Dalen
• Attendance: 18117
• Duration: 2:08