Raptors upset Thunder to seize division lead
Phoenix Suns’ Markieff Morris (11) tips in a basket between Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry (7) and Amir Johnson (15) as Suns’ P.J. Tucker (17) looks to rebound during the second half of an NBA basketball game on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013, in Phoenix. AP
OKLAHOMA CITY – Kyle Lowry scored 22 points and passed off a game-high nine assists Sunday to spark the Toronto Raptors to a 104-98 NBA upset of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder entered with the NBA’s best record but slid to 22-5, falling behind Portland (23-5) for the league’s top mark, while the Raptors improved to 11-14 and jumped ahead of the Boston Celtics for the Atlantic Division lead.
Amir Johnson had 17 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for the Raptors, while DeMar DeRozan added 17 points. John Salmons came off the bench to score 14, while Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas contributed 13 points.
Russell Westbrook scored 27 points and Kevin Durant added 24 points for Oklahoma City, but none of their other teammates managed 10 points and Toronto outscored the Thunder 29-14 in the fourth quarter.
Durant and Reggie Jackson missed 3-pointers in the final seconds and the Raptors sank late free throws to complete the upset.
