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Nov 9, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) goes to shoot as Philadelphia 76ers guard Hollis Thompson (31) defends at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Philadelphia 120-88. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY SportsJohn E. Sokolowski

Along with the success and swelling popularity of the Toronto Raptors over the past year have come new indicators of respect for the club. Thursday night brought another big one, despite the fact that the team suffered its second loss of the season.

For the first time in nearly 13 years, TNT came to Toronto for a pre-scheduled regular season game and broadcast it nationally across the U.S. The Raptors met the Chicago Bulls, the two top teams in the NBA's Eastern Conference. In a physical game with dramatic swings in momentum and a wild final two minutes, the Bulls escaped with a 100-93 win behind 27 points from seven--footer Pau Gasol, and the Raptors dropped to 7-2.

It was billed as the biggest test of the year so far for the Raptors, who had cruised to 7-1 with wins over several weak teams.  Enjoying the best start in franchise history, the Raps were leading the Eastern Conference for the first time since Nov. 12, 2004. Toronto led 52-45 at the half, but a third-quarter collapse spelled the team's demise. Collectively, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry were 11 of 36 shooting from the field for 30 points Thursday, as the Raptors  lost their first home game of the season and Chicago improved to 7-2.

"We had the game under control until the third quarter," said DeRozan, who was 3-of-17 from the field for 10 points. "I'm not worried about it. These games are going to happen, and you've got to learn from it, not get frustrated. Two years ago, I would have been thinking it was the end of the world. I would rather have them games now than later on."

With Reggie Miller and Kevin Harlan calling the game for the NBA's flagship station from their vibrant court-side TNT booth and Hollywood actor Donald Sutherland in the crowd, there were intriguing match-ups to  see all over the floor. "#WeTheNorth vs #TheWindyCity," Tweeted Miller before the game, another example of how the Raptors' identifying mantra has caught on like wild fire. The first of four regular-season meetings between the two this year, it seemed like the sort of game that could spark a rivalry.

One-time league MVP, Derrick Rose, recently back on the court after missing most of the past two seasons with knee injuries, had 20 points, while face to face for much of the game with Lowry. Rose fell while driving the lane in the final two minutes and left the game. Jimmy Butler contributed 21.

James Johnson had 16 off the bench for Toronto, demonstrating how his game has matured since his bench-riding days in Chicago. Amir Johnson had 14, while tangling in the paint with Chicago's formidable seven-foot monsters, Gasol and reigning defensive player of the year Joakim Noah. Jonas Valanciunas had eight points and eight rebounds, as the team was out-rebounded 48-38. Terrence Ross added 12 points, including a three-pointer inside the two-minute mark that put the Raptors within seven, before the Bulls shut down the comeback.

"It's a good experience for us," said Valanciunas. "We were coming off a win streak so it was good, a cold shower for us, make us regroup and be stronger in everything."

Toronto's last regular-season contest on TNT was a last-second fill-in game for the network versus the Atlanta Hawks in 2013 after a game between the Pacers and Boston Celtics was cancelled due to the Boston Marathon bombing. Beyond that, TNT hadn't been to Toronto during the regular season since 2002 when Vince Carter's Raptors were facing Tracy McGrady's Orlando Magic. This time, the network jumped at a matchup between the two squads that had jockeyed for the No.3 seed in last year's playoffs, one the Raptors eventually earned. Perhaps Thursday night's showdown, which featured 12 lead-changes, was a sneak peak at a future post-season showdown.

"They are a dangerous team," said Gasol. "They are very dynamic, athletic, so we have to make sure we know who they are, be ready for them."

The Raptors face three more home games in the next week: Saturday versus Utah, Wednesday against Memphis and a meeting with Milwaukee next Friday.

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