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Jay Satur - Raptors.com
It Was Over When....
The Raptors established an early double-digit lead early in the first quarter that they wouldn't relinquish, but it was a key sequence of the third that allowed the Raptors to seize control.
With the Raptors ahead 60-51 and 11 minutes to go in the third, Knicks centre Samuel Dalembert was whistled for a flagrant two foul and ejected for an elbow that connected to the head of Jonas Valanciunas. The Raptors pivot proceeded to drill two at the line to start 15-7 run and the game wasn't within single digits the rest of the way.
"It was one of those games where we had to grind it out," said head coach Dwane Casey. "The way they (Knicks) can score -- they have multiple guys that can score -- you're always on edge when they cut it (the lead) down. But our guys came in and produced."
The Game Changer
Strong performance from Kyle Lowry overall and particularly in the first half (14 points, 4 assists, 3 steals) to help set an early tone and put the shorthanded and struggling Knicks down early.
While it's been a total team effort in the absence of DeMar DeRozan, Lowry has stabilized the Raptors in the 12 games since (20.8 points, 9.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game over his last 12) and helped them take care of business in this stretch of games against Eastern Conference opponents. He's unquestionably been the team's MVP with just over a third of the regular season now in the rear view mirror.
The Underrated Raptor(s)
The Raptors had received 42.1 points per game from their bench since DeMar DeRozan was sidelined prior to Sunday. They got a combined 43 points from Lou Williams (22 points) and Greivis Vasquez (21 points) on 15-for-27 shooting from the field on Sunday -- an even more impressive performance given a shortened bench on account of James Johnson replacing an injured Landry Fields in the starting five.
Depth is likely about to go from luxury to necessity as the Raptors embark on an extremely tough six-game road stretch starting Monday in Chicago. Vasquez spoke about the embracing the challenge ahead post-game from the Raptors locker room (mobile users click here):
That's A Rap
"I’m ready for it. I’ve been preaching it and we should be ready for it. Everyone is all excited, but again, reality is real and we have to be ready for adversity whenever it hits, You go in with positive vibes and are ready to kick some behind but when adversity hits that’s when you find out how close we are and how we have to stick together." - Head coach Dwane Casey, on an extremely challenging road ahead for the Raptors
By The Numbers
6 - Consecutive wins for the Raptors, matching their season high
14 - Double-digit wins on the season for the Raptors, matching Golden State and Portland for the league lead
33 - 3-point attempts from the Raptors, a season high
6 - Consecutive games in which the Raptors have scored at least 50 points in the second half
9-3 - Raptors record since DeMar DeRozan was sidelined with a torn tendon in his left groin
They Said It
- Lucas Nogueira after an outstanding reception for for both himself and fellow Brazilian rookie Bruno Caboclo late in the fourth quarter
"We still have a bad taste in our mouth about the last time. Hopefully we can figure some things out. We’re not the same team that we were when we played them the first time." - James Johnson, on looking ahead to his former team -- the Bulls -- on Monday night in Chicago
"Hopefully that we can compete with the guys in the West. All these games that we've had have been at home or against Easern Conference opponents, now we have an opportunity to play against some tough teams in some tough environments and hopefully we can come out with more wins than losses."- Patrick Patterson on what he and his teammates can learn on this upcoming road stretch
Up Next
The Raptors aim to level their season series with the Bulls and avenge a rare home loss as they begin an extremely tough stretch of road games wrapped around a short holiday break on Monday (8 PM ET, Sportsnet ONE, FAN 590)