The Sports Xchange
Dec 20, 2017
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points, Serge Ibaka added 24, and the Toronto Raptors remained red hot with a 129-111 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Raptors outscored the Hornets 41-21 in the second quarter to take control, and then they led by as many as 25 in the second half. Toronto wound up shooting 53.8 percent from the field, including 16 of 33 (48.5 percent) from 3-point range.
Toronto (21-8) has won four straight and 10 of its past 11 games.
DeRozan, who did not play in the fourth quarter, finished 10 of 15 from the field. Ibaka was 11 of 16 from the floor.
The Raptors also got 20 points from OG Anunoby, who was 6 of 7 from 3-point range. Pascal Siakam scored 12 and Kyle Lowry added 11. Lowry, who handed out eight assists, also sat out the entire fourth quarter.
The Hornets (11-20) have lost 11 of their past 14.
Jeremy Lamb led Charlotte with a career-high 32 points. Dwight Howard and Kemba Walker scored 15 each, and Howard grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
The Hornets led 26-22 after one quarter before the Raptors took control. Toronto led 63-47 at halftime and 99-79 after three quarters.
NOTES: The Raptors won the only previous meeting this season, 126-113 in Toronto on Nov. 29. The teams will meet two more times. ... The Raptors were without F C.J. Miles (dental procedure) and C Lucas Nogueira (right calf). ... The Hornets were without F Cody Zeller (left knee surgery) and F Treveon Graham (back spasms). ... The Hornets are now 3-7 since coach Steve Clifford left the team to deal with an unspecified health issue. There is still no timeframe on Clifford's return. ... The Raptors were coming off a 108-93 win over Sacramento on Sunday, when they improved to an NBA-best 11-1 at home. ... The Hornets were coming off a 109-91 win over New York on Monday. ... The Hornets were closing out a four-game homestand. They will play at Milwaukee on Friday. ... The Raptors will close out a brief two-game trip at Philadelphia on Thursday.