DeMar DeRozan scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half, leading the Toronto Raptors to a 94-73 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday night.
With injuries playing a role in their 7-14 start, the Raptors received a huge lift from DeRozan. After scoring eight points in the opening half, he was impressive in the last two quarters. He made eight of 12 shots, and 11 of 16 free throws.
Toronto led 46-41 when it scored 10 straight to go up by 15. DeRozan scored four free throws in the run, and Jerryd Bayless added a pair of baskets.
Bayless finished with 17 points, and the six-foot-three guard added six rebounds and six assists. He also spent his 34 minutes playing defence on Deron Williams.
Williams, who came in averaging 19.4 points, scored 24 -- but he had to work for them. He made only eight of 20 shots and just three of 10 from outside the arc.
The game continued to be easy for Toronto after it built a 15-point cushion. New Jersey never got closer than 11 the rest of the way, and the margin reached 23 at one point.
Toronto shot 51.5 per cent to New Jersey's 36.5, and outscored the Nets from the free-throw line 21-12.
The result left both teams with records of 7-14, tying them for third place in the Atlantic Division.
The Raptors put together a 12-1 run midway in the second quarter, going from two points down to nine up at 40-31. They took a 44-39 lead into the half.
Bayless led the stretch, driving for one basket and making three of four free throws.
Eleven points by DeRozan in the third quarter really broke things open.
