|
 "Anything can change in a short period of time so we have to
really focus on our next game," Lakers center Pau Gasol said. "If we
get on a good run, on a good streak we can maybe get there. If we
cannot win today and tomorrow we have no chance."
Gasol scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds on Sunday as the
Lakers overcame a 19-point second-quarter disadvantage to defeat the
Toronto Raptors 112-106 for their second win in a row.
Guard/forward Nick Young scored 24 of his 29 points in the second
half, including 15 in the fourth quarter for the Lakers (16-25).
The loss ended a six-game home winning streak for the Raptors
(20-19), and coach Dwane Casey feels that they did not play their
game.
"We didn't get our defensive focus into the game all day," Casey
said. "Our personality wasn't into the game. This is a defensive
club and we got caught up in their spread the floor, shoot the quick
3 game. And we can't win that way. We're not built that way. That's
not our identity. We have to grind it out."
Forward Ryan Kelly added 17 points for the Lakers, guard Jodie Meeks
had 11 and guard Kendall Marshall scored 10 and added 11 assists.
"The pace was good, we opened up some 3-point shots," Lakers coach
Mike D'Antoni said. "Obviously, Nick (Young) got off and did a heck
of a job. Our guys were moving the ball well and we just have
trouble sustaining the pace sometimes and sustaining intensity on
defense."
The injury-depleted Lakers have won only three of their past 15
games so the two-game surge is welcome.
"When you're winning you always have fun," Young said. "That's what
we've got to do. We're talking and joking, it's bringing us
together."
Guard DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 23 points while guard Kyle
Lowry added 21 with nine assists and forward Patrick Patterson
scored 17 coming off the bench. Forward Amir Johnson chipped in with
13 for Toronto while guard Greivis Vasquez added 11 and
guard/forward Terrence Ross 10.
"They dictated the game more than we did tonight," Lowry said. "They
did a good job of playing the game they wanted to play and making us
play that way also."
The Raptors won the first meeting between the teams this season on
Dec. 8 in Los Angeles, 106-94, and have yet to sweep the Lakers in a
season series in their history.
Casey was disturbed that his team went to the free-throw line only
11 times in the game and the Lakers took 28 foul shots.
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"We shot 11 free throws and that tells us that we're not
getting calls or we're not driving to the rim," Casey said.
"They were aggressive going to the basket. We had some bonehead
fouls on 3-point shots. It's something we shouldn't do."
The Raptors entered the fourth quarter down by one point. After
each team took turns taking one-point leads, Vasquez scored four
straight points, the second pair after a steal, to give the
Raptors a 94-91 lead with 6:41 to play.
The Lakers came back to lead by four points with 3:40 to play on
two free throws by Gasol and a 3-pointer by Young. Lowry hit a
3-pointer with 2:13 to play to cut the Lakers lead to one. Kelly
made all three free throws after he was fouled trying a
3-pointer to put the Lakers up by four.
"Ryan Kelly did a heck of a job," D'Antoni said.
After Lowry cut the lead to two, Young made a 3-pointer for a
108-103 lead with 1:21 to play. DeRozan, who missed a jump shot,
fouled Young who made both shots with 20.5 seconds left to
increase the Lakers' lead to six.
The Lakers moved to within four points by finishing the second
half on a 23-8 surge. The Raptors opened the third quarter on a
12-0 run led by Lowry's seven points to take a 70-54 lead. The
Lakers tied the game 79-79 with 2:55 to play in the third after
Marshall, Young and guard Manny Harris hit consecutive 3-point
shots.
The Lakers led 82-81 after three quarters when Young hit three
of four free throws to conclude the scoring. Ross fouled him
when he attempted a 3-pointer and also was given a technical
foul.
The Raptors took a seven-point lead into the second quarter and
when DeRozan hit a jumper, they increased the lead to 50-31,
their biggest lead of the game. The Lakers cut the lead to 10
with a 9-0 run The Raptors led 58-54 at the half.
The Raptors shot 73.7 percent in the first quarter to take a
36-29 lead.
NOTES: Raptors F/G John Salmons (back spasms) did not play on
Sunday. He left after the first half of Toronto's 94-89 win over
the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. ... Raptors F Tyler
Hansbrough (left ankle sprain) missed his ninth consecutive
game. ... Lakers rookie F Ryan Kelly made his first career start
on Sunday, taking the place of C/F Jordan Hill, after scoring a
career-best 20 points in the 107-104 win at the Boston Celtics
on Friday. ... The Lakers visit Chicago to play the Bulls on
Monday for the fourth game of their seven-game road trip. ...
The Raptors travel to Charlotte to play the Bobcats on Monday
afternoon.
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