Raptors breaking old habits with ig D

The Toronto Raptors started a 5 game western road trip in the city of horrors for them Denver against the Nuggets where they had not won since late 2004 when Chris Bosh (Raptors) and Carmelo Anthony (Nuggets) were rookies and since then the Raptors lost 8 straight games in the mile high city to an average tune of 17 points and included Sam Mitchell and Jay Triano coached their last games as Raps head coaches there. It was also the sight of Julian Wright I do not want to get in the game game as they were down 40-plus and it was not the only games in Denver that the Raptors during the 8 game stretch. That all changed Friday night when the Raptors and their freshly branded all-star DeMar DeRozan stepped on the court after missing Wednesday game against the Orlando Magic and lead the Raps with 19 points to a 100-90 win over the nuggets. It was a normal first half with it being Denver style as the Raptors and nuggets went shot for shot with little D to be shown and the Raps were up 7 60-53 but in the second half it was a different style as the Raptors jammed their big D down the nuggets throats. In the third quarter they combined their smothering D with a powerful offensive punch outscoring the nuggets 26-17 and had the lead up to 20 large and they were able to drag their limp bodies over the finish line with one made free throw in the last 7:44 of the game while Nuggets were only able to take advantage to the tune of 15 points as the Raps stilled smothered on D even if they struggled on O. Terrence Ross added 18 points while Jonas had 13 points to go with 8 boards while the all-star snub Kyle Lowry had 13 points and 6 assists as it was a great team effort as John Salmons dished 9 assists to go with his 11 points. The next night they went to Portland to face a furious trail blazers team who had been stewing over a two-game losing streak since Tuesday so the 33-12 and 18-5 at home Portland Trail Blazers jumped on the out of tune Raps early up 12 after 12 minutes and pushed it to 17 by halftime and in the third quarter they maxed out at a 19 point lead and usually that is the point they pull covers over heads and hide. This is diffidently a different Raptors because every punch they took they rallied back to single digits and then they got it down to 5 near the end of the third when the Blazers caught fire from beyond the arc hitting 3 straight 3-balls to go back up 14 again and it was a tough Raps team. They still more air in their lungs even if they were on life support down 98-82 with 7:42 left in the game and in 7 and half minutes they outscored the Blazers 21-4 for a short lived 103-102 lead. With the Blazers up 104-103 with a 11 and a half seconds on the clock they still had their hands on the ball and DeRozan had the stripped and a couple of Portland free throws later Portland took it 106-103. The game was lost for the Raps at the free throw line as they missed half of their first 14 free throws while Portland made 11 of their first 12 but the Raptors if even DeMar hits the tech foul on Portland the first of two it would of been heading to an extra 5. The Raptors did hit 10 of their last 11 free throws to end the game 17 of 25 from the line while Portland went 20 of 25 and DeMar DeRozan set a career high in assists with 12 to go with 36 points (14 of 29 from the floor). Kyle Lowry had 8 more assists and 23 more points to give the Raps 20 of the 27 assists on 40 made field goals and 59 of the Raptors 103 while Jonas and Amar were stuffed the whistle as Jonas played 30 minutes and had 5 fouls while Amar picked up 4 in 15 minutes and then there was Terrence Ross with 4 in 26 minutes with no made 3's as the Raps missed their first 10 and then went 6 of 10 the rest of the way. This is a team u can really love Tom Mehegan