Raptors beat Mavericks and Thunder on the road

The Raptors actually went on a road trip with the first two stops being Dallas to take on the Mavs and OKC to take on the defeated at home Thunder and one both games. The road trip did not start well on Friday as the Mavs just went to town inside against the Raptors getting out to a huge 41-22 lead only 3 and a half minutes into the second quarter. Then the Raptors got on the same page and went to work against the older but way more talented Mavs as they went on a 27-8 run that lasted almost eight minutes to tie it at 49 but the Mavericks Monta Ellis hit a bucket with just less than 24 seconds and was fouled and hit hiss free throw to put the Mavs up 3. Usually the Raptors fall asleep at halftime and do not recover but they shared the ball more in the third quarter as they had 5 assists in the quarter compared to 7 all the first half and broke even as the Mavs still lead by three (81-78) going into the fourth quarter. In the fourth the Raptors took a three point lead with 2 and a half minutes left in the game but the Mavs battled back with a 6-1 run to go up 101-99 and the Raptors had final shot DeMar DeRozan found an easy shot and took it early in the shot clock and hit it and left 16 seconds on the clock in a tie ball game for the veteran Mavs to win the game but Brandan Wright missed a buzzer beater. It went to overtime and the Raptors had a 109-108 lead with 11 seconds left in overtime and Monta Ellis took a game winning shot but missed and the Raptors chased after the Rebound and all fell on the baseline in celebration in their second win in Dallas in 15 tries. The Raptors were lead by Kyle Lowry who had 20 points and Jonas Valanciunas who had 18 points while Terrance Ross, Amir Johnson, and DeMar DeRozan had 15 each while Greivis Vasquez had 14 off the bench. DeMar DeRozan who had a tough night shooting (6 of 18) really showed maturity by getting 9 of the Raptors 17 assists and took down 7 boards and the Raps 32 defensive boards meant a lot of one and done for the Mavs. Sunday the Raptors went into OKC and took a 62-56 lead to halftime and did fall asleep as Durant and Westbrook outscored the Raptors 21-13 in the third and the Thunder went on a 28-13 third quarter to take a 9 lead to the fourth quarter (84-75). The Thunder and their perfect home record looked to be on ice as they traded baskets to start the fourth but the Raptors ended the last 10 and a half minutes on a 27-11 run lead by John Salmons who had of his 14 off the bench in the fourth quarter to take the game 104-98. Kyle Lowry had a big part of the lead in the first half with 17 of his team leading 22 points but it was the Thunder shooting less than 37% from the floor but they shot 35 of 36 from the line. Raptors shot just less 40% from the floor and had a lot less free throws (24 of 29) but did have more assists (22-17) and less turnovers (13-19). The Raptors beat mavs and OKC on the road after losing to the Bobcats at home Tom Mehegan