National Basketball Association roundup: DeMar Derozan establishes Raptors record

DeRozan hasn’t trouble scoring in Toronto’s first three games, including depositing 33 points in Monday’s 105-102 home win over the Denver Nuggets. The Raptors won 113-103.

After splitting the first two games of the 2016-17 season, the Toronto Raptors are trying to reclaim their spot as one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. If Denver can keep Jackson out of the paint and force hard shots, look for them to push tempo and try to get some easy points in transition. “We gave up 35 points in that third quarter”.

After former Celtics guard Rajon Rondo shot as airball on one end for the Bulls, the Celtics used an Avery Bradley offensive rebound and a runner by Marcus Smart to put the game away. What saved us was getting to the paint. His Celtics team plays incredibly hard, particularly on defense, and their aggressive ball pressure style caused major problems for Denver a year ago.

“That was the thing”. But in the third quarter, they rallied and were down just four going into the fourth.

Wilson Chandler’s 3-pointer with 8:49 left gave the Nuggets their first lead in over 34 minutes. So, with the team that we have – all of the young guys, guys missing time and coming back, it’s positive that we are in games. The Raptors are 2-7 ATS in the last 9 meetings and the under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings. “And you see a tall black man knocking on the door at night time in a leather jacket and a red cup?”

The Wizards had three players finish with double-doubles, shot 58 percent from the field, out-rebounded the Raptors, and scored 40 more points in the paint than Toronto, but still dropped their home opener by 10 points. He finished with a point, two rebounds and two assists, and remains without a basket in his young National Basketball Association career.

With his 33 points on the night, DeRozan became the first Raptor in franchise history to start a season with three consecutive 30-plus point games. “In Europe, when you play pick-and-roll games and you make a screen, you are already on the three-point line”.

“I didn’t do a very good job last two games”, he said. “As long as we go out there and win, that’s all I care about”.

Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay had 16 points apiece for Denver (1-2).

When DeRozan and Lowry were out early in the second quarter, the Raptors climbed back into the game thanks to a big showing from reserves Terrence Ross, Patrick Patterson and Cory Joseph.

Barton was driving the basket when he fell awkwardly, favoring his left ankle. We have 80 [more] games. The Raptors went 10-for-25 from beyond the arc, with Lowry paving the way with three treys on six attempts. Howard had 18 points to go with 11 rebounds and four blocks as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Sacramento Kings, 106-95.

Jimmy Butler scored 22 points as Chicago started quickly and remained unbeaten by rolling to a 118-88 road rout of Brooklyn. Add in the injuries to Will Barton, Gary Harris, and Darrell Arthur and there is a lot going on in the Mile High City.

Over three separate 4th quarters, the Nuggets are shooting an atrocious 28.8 percent from the field with an equally terrible offensive rating of 70.7.

The 4th quarter has been a unusual time for the Denver Nuggets through three games.