Game Rap: Raptors 98, Grizzlies 85

Holly MacKenzie - Raptors.com

Cory Joseph connected on his second three-pointer of the game to put Toronto up 10 with 1:09 remaining. Memphis wouldn’t score again and the Raptors would get the 98-85 victory. The win moves Toronto to 36-18 on the season.

The Memphis squad that faced off against the Raptors had a different look than the one we’ve grown accustomed to seeing. In addition to Marc Gasol being out with a broken foot and Tony Allen missing the game with a sore knee, the Grizzlies also were trying to get new players acquainted with their system after a busy deadline week. The Grizzlies added Lance Stephenson, P.J. Hairston, and Chris Andersen to their roster last week.

DeMar DeRozan tied Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson for most wins in a Raptors uniform with Sunday’s victory. The trio have each notched 232 wins with the franchise. DeRozan looks to break the tie and move into first place when the Raptors take on the Knicks on Monday night.

Kyle Lowry led the way in Toronto’s bounce-back win, scoring 18 points on 6-for-13 field goals. Lowry went 4-for-5 from the free throw line, dished out seven assists, grabbed four rebounds and added a steal in 40 minutes.

Cory Joseph scored 14 points off the bench to lead the reserves. Joseph’s buzzer-beating three-pointer at the end of the first quarter gave Toronto a two-point lead going into the second quarter. The team never trailed after Joseph’s bucket. His second three-pointer came with 1:09 remaining and put Toronto up 10 and sealed the victory. The team was a +11 in Joseph’s 26 minutes.

“I thought the defence was in the game. Everybody’s knees were bent, down in the stance, ready to play and out of vacation mode, I think. If you look around the league, the scores have all spiked up and I say this again, I think the whole league has to get used to that long week of time off and get back into game shape, get the sea legs back, get the mentality back and play basketball.”- Dwane Casey on his team’s defensive effort after a lacklustre performance in Chicago

25… Assists for the Grizzlies and Raptors combined in the game. Lowry recorded a game-high seven assists.40… Points in the paint for the Raptors, compared to 32 for the Grizzlies.16… Season-high 16 points for former Raptors player Vince Carter on 4-for-8 field goals. Carter also had seven rebounds an assist and two steals in 31 minutes.47… Rebounds for the Raptors, 44 for the Grizzlies. Jonas Valanciunas helped Toronto get the edge on the glass with his 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.21… Points from DeMar DeRozan who also added five rebounds, four assists and 10 trips to the free throw line in the win.24… The Raptors have won 24 consecutive games when holding opponents under 100 points.

“He was a big inspiration to me growing up, playing basketball, watching him, Air Canada. There were a lot of situations where I was out in the driveway trying to do the things he was doing back then. It’s obviously a great moment for me, being able to play against him now and see how far I’ve come. It’s great that he’s still here. It’s definitely a special moment.”- Cory Joseph on playing against Vince Carter on the ACC court“I’ve got to beat both of them [laughing]. I kept seeing it on Twitter the last couple of days. That’s how I really knew. It’s a cool thing, honestly, just to be in the record books, and got an opportunity to continue growing with that. When I look back on how long I’ve been here, though the tough times, it’s really a great thing.”- DeMar DeRozan on tying Chris Bosh and Morris Peterson for most wins in a Raptors uniform“It’s a good win for us just in general. It’s a good win for us, two-game losing streak, get back off that and now we’ve got to continue to get better and worry about the Knicks.”- Kyle Lowry on snapping the two-game losing streak“I’ve realized it. I see it a lot now. I’m appreciative of my time, I know it. I can’t help but read about it. I did an interview about it, so I have much respect for it. I’m just glad that you guys are getting to hear my side and my appreciation about my time here because this is where it started. Plain and simple, this is where it started.”- Vince Carter on being able to reflect on the impact he’s had on basketball in Toronto“Whenever you suit up to play Memphis you know it’s going be a grind it out game. It’s the type of team they are. It’s the type of team they’ve been for a long time, so you know you have to bring your ‘A’ game and be ready to lace them up and play a grind it out game.”- Cory Joseph on needing to play defence first against the Grizzlies

The Raptors fly to New York to take on the Knicks in a back-to-back on Monday at 7:30 P.M. ET.