Lowry inspires Raptors to record extending 10th win

Point guard Kyle Lowry scored 26 points and dished out 10 assists to help the Toronto Raptors extend their winning streak to a franchise-record 10 games with a 103-93 victory over the New York Knicks on Thursday.

Toronto's' previous record winning streak was nine games from March 22-April 9, 2002.

The Raptors (31-15) led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter and by 10 entering the fourth quarter before the Knicks crept to within seven before Toronto stretched the lead out to 11 on a three-pointer by Lowry with 1:45 to play.

Lowry scored 10 points in the fourth quarter.

Guard DeMar DeRozan also had 26 points for the Raptors.

Center Jonas Valanciunas added 11 points and grabbed a season-best 18 rebounds, and reserve forward Patrick Patterson chipped in with 10 points while reserve guard Cory Joseph added 11 points.

Guard Arron Afflalo scored 20 points and for the Knicks (22-26), who have lost four in a row.

Guards Sasha Vujacic and Jerian Grant added 13 points each for New York and guard Langston Galloway had 12.

The Raptors led 27-21 after the first quarter sparked by nine points from DeRozan. Afflalo had seven points for New York.

A three-pointer by Lowry with 3:54 to play in the second quarter put the Raptors ahead by 14 points.

Led by 12 points from DeRozan, the Raptors took a 53-43 advantage into the intermission. Lowry added 10 points and seven assists in the first half and Valanciunas nabbed 11 rebounds and scored six points.

Afflalo scored 11 points in the first half and Galloway added eight points.

The Knicks trimmed the Raptors' lead to one point on a driving, floating jumper by forward Lance Thomas with 6:39 to play in the third quarter.

The Raptors came back to get their lead to nine points on a jump shot by Patterson.

DeRozan's jumper raised the lead to 11 with two minutes to play in the third. Toronto led 73-63 after three quarters.

The Knicks got to within seven points of the Raptors early in the fourth quarter. The Raptors led by 12 points with 6:01 to play in the fourth on a hook shot by reserve center Bismack Biyombo. (Editing by John O'Brien)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Porzingis drives Knicks to gritty win over Celtics

NEW YORK -- Rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis poured in 26 points to lead the New York Knicks to a gritty 120-114 win over the Boston Celtics Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks (20-20) won for the fifth time in their last seven games despite the loss of Carmelo Anthony, their leading scorer, who left the game with a sprained right ankle after a collision late in the first half with a referee.

The veteran small forward was having a good offensive night, finishing with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists in almost 18 minutes.

Shooting guard Arron Afflalo contributed 24 points and back-up point guard Jerian Grant added 16 points for the Knicks.



Boston (19-19) was led by guard Isaiah Thomas' 34 points. He was 11 of 12 from the line.

A free throw from forward Jae Crowder gave Boston a 107-106 edge with 2:44 to play before the Knicks outscored the Celtics 14-7 the rest of the way.

A traditional three-point play from Boston forward Jared Sullinger cut the Knicks lead to 99-97 with 5:11 remaining, but the Knicks reeled off seven straight points to push their lead to 106-97 with 3:38 left.

A short jumper from Sullinger drew the Celtics even at 88-88 with 9:45 to play. Boston had trailed by as many as eight points early in the third quarter.

The Celtics took advantage of Anthony's absence, outscoring the Knicks 32-26 in the third, to pull within 85-81 heading into the final quarter.

Anthony tumbled to the floor after stepping on an official's foot running up court late in the second quarter. He left the game with 1:16 left in the half and the Knicks leading 57-45.

Anthony returned for the second half with his right ankle taped, but returned to the locker room after just 20 seconds when he wasn't able to make a quick cut.

Porzingis and Anthony combined for 28 points in the first quarter, helping the Knicks to a 37-26 lead. Porzingis was six of eight from the floor for 16 points and Anthony was five of six for 12 points.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com