NBA GAME RECAP

DeRozan scores 42 in Raptors’ win

The Sports Xchange

March 30, 2015 at 7:19 pm.

Mar 30, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dunks the ball against the Houston Rockets during the first half at the Air Canada Centre. John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

TORONTO – Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan had a career-high 42 points, leading the Raptors to a 99-96 win over the Houston Rockets at Air Canada Centre Monday night.

DeRozan went 14 for 27 from the field and 12 of 17 from the foul line to go along with 11 rebounds.

Toronto (44-30) has now won eight straight games at home against Houston (50-24) dating back to 2007.

Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and nine rebounds, while guard Lou Williams had 13 points off the bench.

Guard James Harden had a team-high 31 points, five rebounds and five assists for Houston, which had its five-game win streak snapped.

Rockets forward Corey Brewer added 13 points and five rebounds off the bench, while rookie center Clint Capela added eight points, including a couple highlight-reel dunks.

Harden, who had 13 points through two quarters, went off in the third quarter, scoring 15 points while going 5 for 9 from the field and 3 for 3 from the free-throw line, giving the Rockets a 76-74 lead heading into the fourth.

Houston led 52-48 at halftime.

DeRozan led all players with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting in the first 24 minutes.

Harden had a team-high 13 points while going 3 of 10 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line.

Houston opened the second quarter on an 11-4 surge and led 38-31 with 7:30 remaining in the period. The Rockets had 22 points in the paint.

Toronto struggled at the start of the game.

Trailing by nine, the Raptors used a 10-2 run to pull within one points at 21-20 with just over two minutes remaining

The Raptors closed the first quarter on a 17-8 run to tie the game at 27-27. Williams led the way with eight points in five minutes off the bench.

NOTES: Raptors G Kyle Lowry missed his third straight game due to back spasms. … Houston announced G Patrick Beverley will undergo season-ending surgery on his left wrist on Tuesday. … Houston C Dwight Howard, who played in his third game since returning from a right knee injury on Sunday, was rested Monday. … Houston was also without F Terrence Jones, who is out with a partially collapsed lung. … Toronto clinched its second consecutive Atlantic Division title with a 94-83 win over the L.A. Lakers on Friday.

ALL  |  NFL  |  College Football  |  MLB  |  NBA

TOP HEADLINES