DeRozan has 33 points in another record-setting night as Raptors beat Nuggets

TORONTO – DeMar DeRozan continues to rewrite the Toronto Raptors record book, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The two-time all-star poured in 33 points, becoming the first player in franchise history to open a season with three 30-plus games, propelling the Raptors 105-102 past the Denver Nuggets on Monday. Kyle Lowry chipped in with 29 as the Raptors (2-1) withstood a furious Nuggets comeback.

“DeMar’s been great,” said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. “His offensive force he’s playing with right now is unreal. Kyle stepped up tonight and gave him a little boost. DeMar’s playing at a very high level offensively.

“We’ve gotta maintain that and not wear that out, but he’s been doing a great job. His leadership and Kyle’s leadership has been big time.”

DeRozan also became the first player since Kobe Bryant, in 2005, to open with three 30-plus games without scoring a three-pointer.

And in what’s becoming a habit, DeRozan had to be informed of the record in the post-game locker-room.

“That was a long time ago,” DeRozan said. “I’m gonna have to text Kobe or something.”

“His game, man. That’s his game,” Lowry said of DeRozan. “People say he don’t shoot threes, it don’t matter. You average 30 points without threes, it’s pretty impressive no matter what. I just want him to keep going and I know he will.”

Jonas Valanciunas added 12 points and nine rebounds, while DeMarre Carroll finished with 10 points for Toronto, which led by 18 points early in what would turn into a nail-biter.

Danilo Gallinari, Emmanuel Mudiay and Will Barton, who left the game late in the third with an ankle injury, had 16 points apiece for Denver (1-2).

The Raptors let their lead slip away in the third quarter, and when Jameer Nelson drilled a three-pointer with six seconds left in the frame, it cut Toronto’s advantage to just two points. DeRozan replied with a turnaround jumper at the buzzer to send the Raptors into the fourth with an 88-84 advantage.

The Nuggets took their first lead of the game with 8:50 to play when Canadian Jamal Murray launched a long pass to a wide open Wilson Chandler for a three-pointer. Nelson drained another three and Denver led by four points with 7:53 to play.

DeRozan and Lowry combined for the Raptors’ final 15 points, and Lowry’s driving layup with 45 seconds to play put the Raptors up by three and brought the capacity Air Canada Centre crowd of 19,800 out of their seats.

Gallinari and Mudiay had three-pointers bounce off the rim to guarantee Toronto’s victory.

DeRozan’s hot start comes amid other superstar performances from the likes of Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook.

He conceded it’s nice to be mentioned in conversations about the league’s top players, he doesn’t believe his performance is on par.

“Hell no. No. Did you see what they’ve been doing? That’s video game numbers,” DeRozan said.

DeRozan was 13 of 23 on the night, while the Raptors shot 46.6 per cent.

Marred by turnovers in Friday’s loss to Cleveland, the Raptors cleaned up their act against Denver, giving up the ball just eight times.

Murray, who grew up an hour west of Toronto in Kitchener, Ont., played his first NBA game at the ACC. The 19-year-old who starred at Kentucky last season played five minutes of the second quarter then started the fourth in place of Barton. He finished with a point, two rebounds and two assists, and remains without a basket in his young NBA career.

“It was a lot of fun just to be back home,” Murray said. “But I am not really worried about that, it is more about the game. We lost a tough game for the second time.”

The Raptors capped a three-game homestand, while the night was Game 1 of a Nuggets’ five-game road trip.

DeRozan led the way with 14 points in the first quarter and Toronto led 33-24 going into the second.

A Lowry pullup jumper midway through the second stretched the Raptors’ lead to 18 points, and they took a 62-49 advantage into the halftime break.

The Raptors play the Wizards in Washington on Wednesday before returning home to host the Miami Heat on Friday.