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Jay Satur - Raptors.com
It Was Over When....
Both teams traded buckets early in this one, but for a second straight game, the Raptors brought the required intensity from tip-off and were on their way to a rout by the end of the first quarter.
The offence continues to come incredibly easy for this group (they've scored at least 100 points in every games this season) and particularly tonight against a banged up and very inexperienced Sixers squad. But this was also a second straight strong defensive effort from the Raptors, who held the Philadelphia to just under 38 per cent shooting.
A professional win from a team starting to figure out the importance of keeping its foot on the gas.
"We understand that we've been in games and had big leads and lost them, especially against a team like that who won't give up," said DeMar DeRozan. "We stressed it even yesterday being able to put our foot on people's necks when we get a lead and not give them any hope."
The Game Changer
Just an incredibly efficient night at the office from DeRozan. The All-Star shot 8-for-12 from the field and hit all eight of his free throw attempts on his way to a game-high 24 points to go with six rebounds, two assists and two steals in 26 minutes of work. Not a second of that floor time was in the fourth.
Head coach Dwane Casey took notice of his leading scorer's refined approach.
"One thing I thought DeMar (DeRozan) did a great job with is he took what the defence gave him. If they gave him a drive he took it; he didn’t force things, he kicked it out and found shooters and his spacing was good. There are going to be nights where he’ll have the match-up, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going to score."
There was also the matter of DeRozan's incredible hanging, spinning baseline drive in the third.
Was it luck or was it skill? Point and counterpoint from DeRozan and Kyle Lowry post-game.
The Underrated Raptor
He's not going to be underrated if he keeps appearing in this space, but James Johnson turned in another potent, all-around impressive performance off the pine in Sunday's win (8 pts, 4-5 FGM-A, 4 rebs, 3 asts, 2 blks).
Johnson played roughly twice the minutes in the second half that he did the first, including the entirety of the fourth quarter that saw the Raptors push their lead to as many as 41 points in the fourth quarter. Whether it was his defence or his ability to finish huge plays like his posterization of Brandon Davies, Johnson is already proving to be a very valuable reserve for the Raptors.
That's A Rap...
"I thought we were very professional and took a very professional approach. Those guys are a young team and I knew they were going to come out and play hard and they did that in the first few minutes of the game. Our guys played the way we should play in a game, starting with defence first. We got into a defensive game very early and that was our key and it got us going offensively." - Head coach Dwane Casey, on the win
By The Numbers
7Consecutive games to start the season with at least 100 points scored for the Raptors. That matches their longest streak since last season (Apr. 2-14, 2014). Their 120 points on Sunday was a season high.
21 - Points needed from DeMar DeRozan to pass Andrea Bargnani for 3rd on the Raptors all-time scoring list.
6-1 - Raptors record after seven games, an unprecedented start to any season for the franchise
37.9 - Shooting percentage for the Sixers. It's the second straight game the Raptors have held an opponent to sub-.400 shooting from the field.
They Said It
"No, that's where you get better. I think our intensity going in was good and I think that's how you get better as a team. That's how you grow, manage the game and try not to have slippage." - Kyle Lowry, on maintaining focus with a big lead
"I think I'm one of the guys that, over the years, my teammates have trusted my to take shots at the end of the quarter. "It's just something that when you realize other guys have confidence in you and having that ability, I have that same confidence in myself."- Lou Williams, after hitting another buzzer beater to end the third
"It feels good to start good like this. We've got to do this every game."- Jonas Valanciunas with the NBATV Canada Post Up crew
Up Next...
The Raptors continue their home stand with a second meeting against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday (7:30 PM ET, Sportsnet, FAN 590). The Raptors earned a 108-95 road win against the Magic in their second game of the season on November 1st.