Sacramento Kings forward DeMar DeRozan (10) drives to the basket against Toronto Raptors guard Ochai Agbaji (30) during the first quarter of an NBA game at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images
DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, including 11 in a commanding fourth quarter, to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 122-107 win over the visiting Toronto Raptors in the NBA on Wednesday.
Keegan Murray combined 22 points with 12 rebounds, De’Aaron Fox contributed 21, and Domantas Sabonis notched his 61st career triple-double — and second in five days — with 17 points, 11 boards and 13 assists.
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RJ Barrett scored 23 points and Davion Mitchell added 20 for the Raptors, who led by four points after three before being completely snowed under 33-14 in the fourth.
READ: NBA: DeMar DeRozan joins Kings, Nuggets land Dario Saric
DeRozan became the first player in Kings history to start his tenure with the franchise with eight 20-plus scores, surpassing the previous all-time mark of seven that he shared with Chris Webber.
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Murray was particularly active early, racking up 12 points and five boards in an opening term that comprised seven ties and six lead changes.
At the other end, Barrett scored 11 first-quarter points and Chris Boucher drained all three of his 3-point attempts, helping the Raptors lead 33-30 after one.
READ: NBA: De’Aaron Fox fuels Kings past Hawks for third straight win
Barrett and Boucher combined to increase Toronto’s advantage to nine points early in the second before Sabonis’ expert playmaking (he had 10 first-half assists) sparked Sacramento’s offense.
The Kings quickly erased the deficit and moved ahead 57-54 at intermission.
Barrett hit a tough, off-balance drive to give the Raptors the lead back before the visitors, who hit only 4 of 18 triples in the first half, busted Sacramento’s zone defense with four treys in the first five minutes to go up 77-69 on three successive Jakob Poeltl baskets.
The Raptors were still in front by six early in the fourth before the Kings turned the arm-wrestle around dramatically, gaining total control at both ends.
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DeRozan, Sabonis, Malik Monk and some sterling team defense inspired separate 9-0 and 11-2 runs to give the Kings complete control. –Field Level Media
