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Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) reacts after going down with a leg injury against the Dallas Mavericks at Air Canada Centre. The Mavericks beat the Raptors 106-102.Tom Szczerbowski

In an 82-game season, not every contest is going to be a victory -- even if the 13-2 Toronto Raptors were starting to make it feel like it could be good times every night.

The Dallas Mavericks visited Friday night and ended Toronto's six-game win streak, handing them a 106-102 loss on a night when DeMar DeRozan left the floor with a groin injury. The feisty Raptors made it a thrilling fourth quarter on the back of Kyle Lowry, but it wasn't to be.

A high-scoring affair was expected between two of the best offensive teams in the NBA. The Raptors – decked in the purple jerseys of the '90s Friday night -- broke out to a high-flying 10-0 lead on the sixth-place team in the Western Conference. But that dominance was fleeting. The Raptors went cold, shooting just 35.6 per cent from the field in the first half. The Mavericks seized the lead – going up 26-21 by the end of the first quarter, then pulling ahead by 14, before the Raptors came back within five points by half-time.

Eight minutes into the third quarter, DeRozan lay on the floor writhing in pain as his teammates stood over him with concern. The Raptors star left the game with a strained left groin and didn't return.

The Raptors clawed through the third then began spinning some of their signature fourth quarter magic, inching achingly close but never gripping the lead for long. Lowry had 25 points on the night – 13 of them in the final quarter. Greivis Vasquez provided nine of his 14 points in the fourth, while Amir Johnson dished in seven of his 20. DeRozan was 0-of-8 from the field when he left the game.

While the Raptors held stars Dirk Nowitzki to 15 and Tyson Chandler to 11, Monta Ellis got loose for 30 points, Chandler Parsons muscling for 16 as the Mavs improved to 11-5.

"I've got to give it to Dallas, I think that's the best they've played," said Johnson. "But every team is going to come in and give us their best, since we're on top, so we've just got to be ready for that. It was a hard-fought game, but we came up short."

In a packed Air Canada Centre, fans erupting for every Raptor basket, more prominent visitors took note of what's happening in Toronto. Casey was facing the team with whom he won an NBA title in 2011. Casey had helped the Mavs win more than 50 games per season in the three years he coached there as their defensive expert, and shortly after they hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy, coach Rick Carlisle was on the phone giving a glowing recommendation for his assistant. Carlisle's pride in Casey hasn't faded now that they are competitors.

"I give Brian Colangelo a lot of credit for hiring Dwane," said Carlisle. "There were a lot of more established coaches that he passed on and he targeted Dwane as a guy he knew. He's good with young players, molding them and instilling a defensive philosophy into how they play. In the very first year, their record wasn't very good but their defence did a 180, and from there, they have built it up each year. Dwane has earned the right to have a team this good."

More kudos for Toronto came from ESPN analyst Jalen Rose. As the franchise continues to celebrate its 20 year, welcoming back old favourite players, Jalen Rose sat court-side Friday night, admiring how Toronto's basketball scene has evolved since he was a Raptor a decade ago.

"You have to look no further for the progress of Toronto basketball than the how the crowd showed up in Cleveland [last week for the Raptors' game]," said Rose. "Those 'We The North' chants on LeBron James' home floor, along with getting a win there -- that says a lot about how far the team has come."

Rose said he was overjoyed to see the Raptors honour Vince Carter, and saw the former Toronto superstar's emotional appreciation for the gesture as positive momentum for the club, healing old wounds and moving into the present.

"This guy could walk into practice and do a reverse 360 while eating a sandwich…he became a transcendent player in Toronto," said Rose. "I'm pretty sure when he goes into the Hall of Fame he'll go in as a Toronto Raptor, so it's only right to repair that relationship."

It came days after ESPN's John Hollinger ranked the Raptors first in this week's power rankings, saying they have an NBA-best 36.7 per cent chance of being champs this year, and a 68.2 per cent chance of making the NBA Finals. Casey, peppered about the compliment before the game, humbly said it wasn't worth the paper it was written on.

Now 13-3 East-leading Raptors now go on a three three-game West Coast road trip, where they will face Los Angeles, Sacramento and then Utah before returning home to meet Cleveland next Friday. It remains to be seen whether DeRozan will be ready to play those contests.

"It's some big shoes to fill; the next guy has to be ready to step up and pick up the slack," said Casey. "Hopefully he's not out long, but we'll see."

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