LaMarcus Aldridge had a season-high 33 points and a career-best 23 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Raptors 94-84 on Friday to hand Toronto its seventh consecutive loss.
Raymond Felton scored 14 points, and Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace each had 10 rebounds as Portland won its seventh straight over Toronto. The Trail Blazers have not lost to the Raptors since a 101-100 overtime defeat on Dec. 22, 2006.
Portland outrebounded Toronto 55 to 40.
Aldridge had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. His previous career high in rebounds was 19 against Milwaukee on Dec. 20, 2010. His career high in points is 42, set against Chicago on Feb. 7, 2011.
James Johnson had a career-high 23 points and DeMar DeRozan scored 22 for the Raptors, who have lost nine of 10.
Leandro Barbosa scored 17, Ed Davis had 10 rebounds and Jose Calderon 13 assists for Toronto, which opens a five-game trip Sunday at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Heading into the game, Casey said he still believes the Raptors are headed in the right direction despite the continued losses.
“It hurts, it should hurt, to lose six in a row,” he said. “We don’t want that to become the norm or guys to feel like it’s the norm. But big picture-wise, I see growth.
“I see development, in players, in the team, things they’re doing defensively now that I don’t have to yell and jump up and down. That to me is growth.”
As for DeRozan’s performance this year, Casey said the expectations on the 23-year-old heading in were out of whack.
Casey said with the new defensive responsibilities DeRozan has been tasked with this year, he is not surprised the forward’s offensive production has slipped.
“Last year I thought, offensively, he put up big numbers,” Casey said. “But again, he didn’t do his job on the defensive end. Now we have to put it all together and go to the next level.”
After Portland opened up a 47-32 lead by the half, the Raptors played with renewed vigour in the third quarter – especially DeRozan, who scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the frame, connecting on seven of his 21 jump shots..
A DeRozan three-point play trimmed Portland’s lead to 51-46 before Portland coach Nate McMillan called a timeout to set his team straight.
Raymond Felton, Portland’s speedy point guard, responded with a couple of timely threes and then threaded a smart pass to Nicolas Batum that he accepted in full flight for another layup.
Raymond Felton scored 14 points, and Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace each had 10 rebounds as Portland won its seventh straight over Toronto. The Trail Blazers have not lost to the Raptors since a 101-100 overtime defeat on Dec. 22, 2006.
Portland outrebounded Toronto 55 to 40.
Aldridge had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the first half. His previous career high in rebounds was 19 against Milwaukee on Dec. 20, 2010. His career high in points is 42, set against Chicago on Feb. 7, 2011.
James Johnson had a career-high 23 points and DeMar DeRozan scored 22 for the Raptors, who have lost nine of 10.
Leandro Barbosa scored 17, Ed Davis had 10 rebounds and Jose Calderon 13 assists for Toronto, which opens a five-game trip Sunday at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Heading into the game, Casey said he still believes the Raptors are headed in the right direction despite the continued losses.
“It hurts, it should hurt, to lose six in a row,” he said. “We don’t want that to become the norm or guys to feel like it’s the norm. But big picture-wise, I see growth.
“I see development, in players, in the team, things they’re doing defensively now that I don’t have to yell and jump up and down. That to me is growth.”
As for DeRozan’s performance this year, Casey said the expectations on the 23-year-old heading in were out of whack.
Casey said with the new defensive responsibilities DeRozan has been tasked with this year, he is not surprised the forward’s offensive production has slipped.
“Last year I thought, offensively, he put up big numbers,” Casey said. “But again, he didn’t do his job on the defensive end. Now we have to put it all together and go to the next level.”
After Portland opened up a 47-32 lead by the half, the Raptors played with renewed vigour in the third quarter – especially DeRozan, who scored 14 of his team-high 22 points in the frame, connecting on seven of his 21 jump shots..
A DeRozan three-point play trimmed Portland’s lead to 51-46 before Portland coach Nate McMillan called a timeout to set his team straight.
Raymond Felton, Portland’s speedy point guard, responded with a couple of timely threes and then threaded a smart pass to Nicolas Batum that he accepted in full flight for another layup.
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