Raptors 106, Lakers 94
Amir Johnson scored a career-best 32 points on 14-of-17 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds as visiting Toronto snapped a five-game losing streak and spoiled Kobe Bryant’s return from an Achilles’ tendon injury.
DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and Kyle Lowry added 23 points and eight assists for the Raptors, who were shorthanded after Rudy Gay and two other players were scratched due to a reported upcoming trade with the Sacramento Kings. The victory snapped Toronto’s 10-game road losing streak against Los Angeles dating back to Dec. 28, 2001.
Bryant scored nine points on 2-of-9 shooting in 28 minutes, and grabbed eight rebounds and committed eight turnovers. Nick Young led the Lakers with 19 points while Xavier Henry scored 17 and Jodie Meeks added 14.
Los Angeles was within 89-85 after two free throws by Bryant with 4:50 remaining. DeRozan answered with eight points during a 10-2 run as the Raptors pushed the lead back to 12 with 2:36 to go and finished off the wire-to-wire victory.
Johnson had 23 first-half points as Toronto took a 51-47 halftime lead. The Raptors stretched the lead to as many as 14 in the third quarter before settling for a 73-68 advantage entering the final stanza.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Published reports have Gay and frontcourt players Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy headed to Sacramento for PG Greivis Vasquez and forwards John Salmons, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes in a deal to be officially announced Monday. … The Raptors had a dominating 62-32 edge in points in the paint. … Toronto racked up 11 steals while forcing Los Angeles into 19 turnovers.