DeMar DeRozan Smashes Raptors Record
DeMar DeRozan
DeMar DeRozan set franchise and NBA records on New Years Day. The Toronto Raptors guard scored 52 points in a 131 – 127 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It’s a franchise-record points total.
DeRozan also became the first NBA player to score 50 points on New Years Day. He is the third player in Raptors history to score more than 50 points in a game.
Previous Toronto record holders include DeRozan’s former teammate, Terence Ross. Ross scored 51 points in 2014. Back in 2000, Vince Carter also scored 51 points for the Raptors.
“I for sure wanted to beat T-Ross,” DeRozan said.
“I remember being a kid and wishing to be in moments like that. When you come out here and you’re in those moments, you’ve got to make the best out of them.”
His 52 points were also a personal best. They were his second personal best in as many weeks. On December 21, he scored 45 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.
DeRozan is certainly a player coming into serious form this year. He’s getting recognition, too.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey said he was “playing with a lot of juiceâ€.
“You could see the bounce in his step. Tonight, DeMar DeRozan played like a superstar.”
He also scored 5 three pointers on the night, one shy of his career best. As well as that, he made 17 of 29 field goal attempts while shooting 13-of-13 from the free throw line.
Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd paid tribute to the player who defeated his side after the game:
“He’s dangerous any time he puts on a uniform. Now to be able to expand his range out to the 3-point line just makes the game easier for him.”
Futures
The player also added 8 assists, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 block.
The Toronto Raptors are currently + 750 to win the Eastern Conference.
