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Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan (right) shoots on Philadelphia 76ers' Luc Mbah a Moute during second half NBA basketball action in Toronto on Wednesday, January 14, 2015.Chris Young

Kyle Lowry had a smile that wouldn't go away, even as he picked up clothes that lingered over from DeMar DeRozan's locker stall into his own and tossed it back at his backcourt mate with a mock scolding.

"Sorry guys," a snickering DeRozan said to a waiting throng of reporters. "We're like an old married couple."

In the hour before Wednesday night's tip-off, the Toronto Raptors Tweeted out a photo-illustration of DeRozan's face -- half of it cloaked in a Terminator-like mask -- along with the caption I'm Back.

After missing more than six weeks with a groin tear, the half-man, half-machine, All-Star shooting guard led the Raptors with 20 points over 28 minutes in his return to the starting lineup. It was a game they won 100-84 against the lowly Philadelphia 76ers, and a night that helped to lighten the vibe surrounding a team coming off five losses in their last six contests.

Lowry finally had his best teammate back, and the weight loaded on the point guard's shoulders seemed to lighten. Lowry himself lightened too.

"He gets guys some open shots and takes some attention off me, and it's always good when you get your All-Star back and he can get 20 points on 14 shots in such an efficient way," said Lowry. "Tonight, he played how he always plays."

It had been 21 games since Toronto's All-star shooting guard skidded out on the floor while driving to the hoop against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 30, and then lay there clenching and groaning in pain. The Raptors went 12-9 without him and their brand of play had slowly turned from defensive-minded to free-wheeling without DeRozan there to slow the pace. Offence picked up but defence suffered. It was a style that would never win in the playoffs.

A bad tear in his left adductor longus tendon had him confined to the couch at first, watching the NBA and playing video games. He would watch his own team play from the locker room usually, viewing it as a coach might, using the time to see the game differently.

DeRozan got a standing ovation from the Air Canada Centre crowd as he was announced Wednesday among the starters. There was another resounding bellow when the fifth-year Raptor got his first touch.

Dwane Casey treaded lightly with his star, giving him just five and a half minutes in the first quarter to keep him fresh for later. DeRozan, who was averaging 19 points a game before the injury, made his mark without doing too much -- dropping in six quick points, dishing an assist, grabbing a defensive rebound and making a leaping steal.

"I told him he is playing like an old man, you know the slow man's game when you're not getting too high off the floor," said Casey. "He's smart, he's under control, he brings a calming effect to our team."

The Raptors got out to a speedy 13-0 lead in the opening three minutes versus a 7-30 Sixers squad full of slender, fresh-faced 20-year-olds and dwelling near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Point guard Michael Carter-Williams finally made the first bucket for Philadelphia, which was prophetic of a solid night ahead for the speedy 2014 NBA rookie of the year. There was yet another gunslinger in town, just days after point guards Kemba Walker from Charlotte and Brandon Jennings from Detroit had troubled the Raptors off the point.

A 12-1 run in the second quarter helped the 76ers narrow the lead to four by half time. Then in the third quarter, another unsettling moment came as Kyle Lowry had a layup blocked and fell hard before getting up and jogging back into the action.

Toronto, who had averaged 16.8 turnovers in their last five games, included 19 on Monday versus Detroit, had just another 17 on Wednesday. The young 76ers hung around – lingering inside ten points much of the night -- largely on the shoulders of a 29-point night by the creative-driving Carter-Williams.  The Raptors had throttled Philly 120-88 back in November, but this wasn't quite as decisive a thumping. It was mid-way through the fourth quarter before the Raptors really put it away. The 100-point threshold made the fans delirious, a bunch who once again, earn a free slice of pizza.

DeRozan's 28 minutes was slightly less than the 33 per night he had been averaging before the injury. He was 9-of-14 from the field.  DeRozan admitted the doctors had hoped he would limit his minutes further on his first night. He also said he had wanted to come back much earlier.

His stat line also included four rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a blocked shot and three turnovers. Lou Williams had 19 on the night. Lowry added 18 with 12 assists; while Jonas Valanciunas had 12 and seven boards. Amir Johnson had 16 boards.

"It feel great actually," said DeRozan as Lowry stood next to him, snoring and heckling his friend to hurry up. "I thought I was goig to be more winded, but I feel good."

Next up for the Raptors is a meeting Friday at the Air Canada Centre with the Atlanta Hawks, a team which leads the Eastern Conference. Toronto has improved to 26-12, battling with the Washington Wizards in second place.

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