Raptors beat Nets as Lowry records triple-double
NEW YORK -- Kyle Lowry recorded his ninth career triple-double with 15 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors made enough plays down the stretch for a 103-95 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon.
Before the game, coach Dwane Casey said Lowry was feeling "under the weather" and during the game, Toronto's point guard received four stitches on his right forearm after colliding with a camera attached to a stanchion near the basket.
The sickness and stiches did little to deter Lowry, who played 40 minutes while DeMar DeRozan missed his seventh game with a sprained right ankle.
Many of Lowry's assists went to Jonas Valanciunas, who led the Raptors with 22 points and played effective defense on Brook Lopez at times. Valanciunas made 9 of 17 shots, highlighting his fifth game with at least 20 points by getting four dunks.
Reserve Terrence Ross added 17 and DeMarre Carroll contributed 15 for the Raptors, who led for the final 28:07 and won for the third time in the last 11 games since Jan. 17.
Brook Lopez scored 20 points but shot 6 of 17 as Brooklyn dropped its eighth straight game and 12th straight at home. The Nets are two losses away from matching the 2010 franchise record for consecutive home losses.
Sean Kilpatrick added 18 and Trevor Booker contributed 15 for the Nets, who shot 42 percent and committed 22 turnovers. It was the eighth time this season Brooklyn committed at least 20 turnovers.
Toronto took control of matters with a 17-4 blitz over the final 4:43 remaining for a 55-43 lead at halftime. The spurt was highlighted by four dunks and transition 3-pointers by Ross and Carroll.
The lead grew to 75-63 through three before the Nets got close.
It was 84-80 Toronto with 5:20 remaining when Bojan Bogdanovic converted a transition layup. About a minute later, Lowry reached the double-double when he connected with an open Valanciunas for a dunk and an 88-80 lead.
Lowry then recorded his first triple-double since Feb. 22 at New York when he rebounded a Kilpatrick shot that was blocked by Norman Powell. Lowry then found Carroll for a cutting layup with 3:40 remaining and the lead was 92-82.
NOTES: Raptors F Patrick Patterson (left knee contusion) did not play and it was 11th game he missed due to various left knee ailments. ... Toronto G DeMar DeRozan (sore right ankle) missed his seventh game with the injury initially sustained two weeks ago against the Phoenix Suns. ... Brooklyn rookie swingman Caris LeVert (right knee soreness) sat out. Coach Kenny Atkinson said it is not serious and the team is being cautious. ... Nets rookie G Isaiah Whitehead was in the lineup after taking a shot to his collarbone Friday. Whitehead practiced Saturday and Atkinson said he was fine. ... On Friday in Orlando, Raptors coach Dwane Casey played G Cory Joseph seven minutes and said he was giving him a "mental break." After Saturday's practice, Joseph told reporters he did not think he needed a mental break.