Lowry leads Raptors past Lakers for fifth straight win
TORONTO -- Kyle Lowry scored 24 points and dished out seven assists, DeMar DeRozan added 16 points with six assists and the Toronto Raptors defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 113-80 Friday night to extend their winning streak to five games.
The Raptors (13-6) led from the outset as the Lakers (10-11) lost for the second time in three games on a four-game trip that ends Saturday.
Toronto led by six points after the first quarter, by 21 after the first half and by 22 after the third quarter.
The Lakers cut the lead to 17 early in the fourth quarter before the Raptors went up by 28 with 7:30 to play on Lowry's field goal and the ensuing free throw, and the lead reached 33 points.
Norman Powell added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Raptors and Cory Joseph contributed 14 off the bench while Lucas Nogueira had 13.
Brandon Ingram led the Lakers with 17 points, with Jordan Clarkson adding 14 and Lou Williams 13.
After opening a 15-4 lead, the Raptors held a 28-22 advantage after the first quarter with Lowry scoring nine points.
Joseph's layup with 8:53 to play in the second quarter gave the Raptors a 40-28 lead.
Powell's layup had the Raptors up by 14. Lowry made his fifth 3-pointer in six attempts during the first half to bump the lead to 16 and Joseph's jumper just before the buzzer gave Toronto a 69-48 at intermission.
Lowry led Toronto with 18 first-half points and Lowry and Joseph each had 10.
Clarkson and Williams each scored 11 first-half points for the Lakers.
After the Lakers trimmed the lead to 18 early in the third quarter, Powell scored on a running dunk off the fast break with 5:53 to play in the third quarter and the Raptors led by 20.
DeRozan's 19-foot, step back, jump shot beat the buzzer and the third quarter ended with Toronto leading 84-62.
NOTES: Lakers G/F Nick Young (strained right calf) will be out at least two weeks after being injured in the first quarter of the loss to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. ... Los Angeles G D'Angelo Russell (sore left knee) is about one week away from returning to the lineup. ... Raptors F DeMarre Carroll was rested Friday and will play Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. Toronto wants to avoid back-to-back games for Carroll, who had knee surgery in the offseason. F Norman Powell started in his place on Friday. ... The Lakers will end their four-game road trip Saturday when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies. ... The Raptors play the fourth game of six in a row at home Saturday when they host the Hawks.