DeRozan Raptors Push Past Nuggets With 33 Points

“It feels good. It’s just not going in”, he said.

DeRozan became the first player in franchise history to start a season with three consecutive 30-point games. The Denver Nuggets were the third worst team at covering the perimeter last season, so if there were ever a time to get the three-point party going, in the words of Baltimora, tonight’s the night. His game is centred on drives to the basket, and operating within the three-point line with a strong portion of his touches coming in isolation sets.

He conceded it’s nice to be mentioned in conversations about the league’s top players, he doesn’t believe his performance is on par.

DeRozan’s run of 30-point games is one shy of Mike James’ stretch from 2006 for the longest run at any point in the season.

The former Grand River student, who went on to play at Orangeville Prep and the University of Kentucky, saw limited action in his first two regular-season games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers.

Danilo Gallinari, Will Barton and Emmanuel Mudiay had 16 points each, while the two other starters Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic also scored in double figures.

“DeMar’s been great. His offensive (game) right now is unreal”, Raptors coach Dwane Casey told the Toronto Star. But in the third quarter, they rallied and were down just four going into the fourth. “They got whatever they want, they dropped their shoulder and bullied us”.

-Majority of our second half points came from the paint.

Harris has missed the first two games with a groin injury.

Jimmy Butler scored 22 points, Dwyane Wade had 12 in the first road game of his career not played for Miami, and Chicago improved to 3-0 with a win at Brooklyn.

The first two games for the Raptors thus far have gone, well, about as expected.

The Denver Nuggets wrapped up their first week of games with a 1-1 record. Denver won both meetings with Toronto last season. Eric Bledsoe and Devin Booker are phenomenal players who I love for annual leagues, but I’m avoiding them and the red-hot T.J. Warren in favor of stacking Raptors.

It begins with the starting lineup, which is devoid of three-point shooters outside of Kyle Lowry and DeMarre Carroll.

Barton left the game. The team announced Barton suffered a left ankle sprain, but X-rays were negative.

Regardless of whether head coach Michael Malone elects to start Jameer Nelson alongside Emmanuel Mudiay, or potentially bring Wilson Chandler into the starting lineup to create a massive starting five, or throw Murray into the fire of a four-game road trip, as a starter, only a meager three games into his National Basketball Association career, is yet to be determined.

The Toronto Raptors will look to close out its first homestand of the season on a winning note after dropping a 94-91 decision to the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.

In an evenly matched game, I’m looking for the Nuggets to come in and win this one kicking off their 5-game road trip with a bang.