Toronto, ON (SportsNetwork.com) - Terrence Ross went 6-of-8 from beyond the arc and scored 18 points to lead Toronto to a 99-87 win over Sacramento on Friday.
DeMar DeRozan and Patrick Patterson had 15 points apiece for the Raptors, who have won eight of their last 10. Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 and Kyle Lowry had 12 points and seven assists.
DeMarcus Cousins tallied 24 points and seven rebounds for the Kings, who have lost four of their last six. Ben McLemore and Isaiah Thomas notched 14 points apiece, with Thomas adding five assists.
"You can't take it personal they're in Sacramento now but we're still friends," said Ross of his former teammates.
Rudy Gay had 15 points and five rebounds in his return to Toronto since being traded to the Kings in early December.
"Yea, I think we went out there and didn't play for each other it shows on the stat sheet," Gay said.
"On the Raptors they're really excelling while JV [Jonas Valanciunas] is playing a lot better, he is a presence, everybody is playing very well," said Gay of his former team.
The Raptors led by two with 6:35 left in the first quarter before they used a big 17-9 push to close the period with a 29-19 lead.
The teams traded buckets through the first four minutes of the second quarter until the Kings went on a 10-1 burst to cut their differential two points, 37-35, with 5 1/2 minutes on the clock. The Raptors wasted no time and responded with a 10-4 run over the next two minutes. Toronto led 51-44 at the break.
The Kings attempted to chip away at the Raptors' lead, however, they could barely keep pace with Toronto in the third quarter. Sacramento came within nine twice, but the Raptors held them off thanks in part to shooting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Ross made three of those shots.
"I think the dunking is letting me get all these wide open threes," said Ross.
Toronto started the final 12 minutes with its largest lead of the game 80-63. After the Raptors scored the first six to open the fourth, Sacramento answered with nine straight to cut the margin to 86-72 with just under five minutes left. The Kings never got within single digits down the stretch.
Game Notes
The Kings lead the all-time series 22-13 ... Sacramento shot 5-for-19 from beyond the arc, while Toronto went 10-for-21 on its 3-pointers ... The Kings outscored the Raptors 42-28 inside the paint ... Toronto will face Minnesota on Sunday ... The Kings take on Brooklyn on Sunday.
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