Ross scores 26 points, Raptors beat Trail Blazers

[January 03, 2013]  TORONTO (AP) -- Terrence Ross scored a career-high 26 points, DeMar DeRozan had 24 and the Toronto Raptors snapped an eight-game losing streak against Portland by beating the Trail Blazers 102-79 on Wednesday night.

Ed Davis had 19 points and Amir Johnson 17 in Toronto's first victory over the Trail Blazers since a 116-109 double-overtime win on Jan. 13, 2008.

Ross had a career-best six 3-pointers as the Raptors won for the eighth time in nine games and opened their season-high six-game homestand in style, leading by as many as 25.

David and DeRozan were the only two starters to score for the Raptors. Along with Landry Field (seven points), Johnson and Ross, no other Toronto player scored until the fourth quarter.

Jose Calderon had 13 assists and Kyle Lowry had nine for Toronto.

Rookie Damian Lillard led Portland with 18 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Wesley Matthews had 12 points and Nicolas Batum scored 10 for the Trail Blazers, who were coming off a 105-100 victory at New York on Tuesday night.

For Toronto, it was a complete reversal from the last meeting with the Trail Blazers: an 18-point loss at Portland on Dec. 10, the final game in an 0-5 road trip in which Lowry and Andrea Bargnani left injured, Amir Johnson was ejected for throwing his mouthguard at a referee and the Blazers won despite setting an NBA record for shooting futility, missing all 20 of their 3-point attempts.

This time, the Raptors jumped out to a 10-0 lead and were up 24-17 after one thanks to 10 points each from Davis and DeRozan.

Ross hit 3-pointers on three consecutive possessions midway through the second, then made his fourth on a buzzer beating shot to give Toronto a 55-39 lead at the half.

Davis scored nine points in the third and DeRozan had eight as the Raptors took a 78-61 edge into the final quarter.

NOTES: Ross's previous career-high was 19, set Nov. 27 at Houston. ... Bargnani remains sidelined with a torn ligament in his right elbow. Raptors coach Dwane Casey said Bargnani must undergo another MRI before the team sets a timetable for his return. There is currently no date for that exam. ... Toronto F Linas Kleiza (sore right knee) did not dress. ... Lillard was named rookie of the month for December after he led all rookies in scoring with 18.4 points per game. ... Portland assistant Jay Triano was Toronto's head coach from 2008 to 2011.

[Associated Press; By IAN HARRISON]

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