Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) dunks against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half of a game at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on March 26, 2016. The Raptors defeated the Pelicans 115-91.Derick E. Hingle
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points, Patrick Patterson had 16 and the Toronto Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak, beating the New Orleans Pelicans 115-91 on Saturday night to tie a franchise record with their 49th victory of the season.
Toronto was never pushed by the Pelicans, who were down to just nine players on the active roster because of injuries. The Raptors shot 53 per cent from the floor and the defence was nearly as good, holding New Orleans to just 43 per cent shooting.
Norman Powell scored 15 points and Luis Scola 12 for the Raptors, who set the franchise mark for wins last season.
With New Orleans' top five scorers on the bench due to injury, Alonzo Gee led the Pelicans with 18 points. Luke Babbitt added 14 points off the bench.
Though Toronto's offence was efficient, shooting 53 per cent from the floor, the defence was nearly as good, holding New Orleans to 43 per cent. New Orleans scored 50 of its 91 points in the paint and made just four of 15 3-pointers.
TIP-INS
Raptors: Have now won 21 road games this season, one less than their franchise record set in 2013-14 and matched in 2014-15. ... Toronto entered 29th in the league in assists, averaging just 18 per game. It finished with 24 Saturday night, including assists on all nine of its made baskets in the second quarter.
Pelicans: Turned the ball over just six times, two off of a season low. ... New Orleans' reserves scored 39 points, just two off of its season average despite playing with just four reserves.
LOWRY CONTINUES SLUMP
Lowry, the team's second-leading scorer, has hit a bit of slow stretch. In the past three games he has played, Lowry is shooting just 28 per cent. Against New Orleans, he went just 3 of 13 and finished with 11 points, just three more than his season low.
PELICANS SIGN FRAZIER
The Pelicans signed guard Tim Frazier through the April 13 season finale, a move that helps buoy an increasingly injury-plagued roster. Including Frazier, New Orleans played with nine players on the active roster against Toronto on Saturday. Frazier scored in double figures in his first five games with the Pelicans, including a career-best 18 points on March 24 against Indiana.
UP NEXT
Raptors: Host Oklahoma City on Monday.
Pelicans: Host New York on Monday.