With about two weeks from the All Star game, now is the time for the players that were selected to showcase why they were among the ones picked.
In this particular case it was a chance for first time All Star selection Demar Derozan to demonstrate why he was among the chosen few.
The Toronto Raptors found themselves in a highly contested game against the Portland Trail Blazers in the fourth quarter, after coming back from a deficit as high as 19 earlier in the night. A costly fumble by Derozan would ultimately cost Toronto the game in the closing seconds in the 106-103 loss.
DeRozan fumble seals it. Tough pill for DeMar & the Raps to swallow. Impressive comeback but as Casey will remind us… it’s a 4 quarter game
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 2, 2014
DeMar on last play “I lost the ball, I put that 1 on me. Ive got to keep the ball in my hands & at least give us a chance to get a shot off”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 2, 2014
Toronto point guard Kyle Lowry also commented on the final play that teammate Derozan botched on their behalf. As one of the players who many believe to be the most obvious snub from the All Star game selections, Lowry expressed his confidence in his teammate after the game.
After providing Derozan with the set up to send the game into overtime, Lowry expressed no regrets on his decisions as he believed it to be best for the team in that moment.
Lowry said no doubt he was going to DeMar. “He wanted the ball & when your best player, your All-Star wants the ball you give him the ball”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 2, 2014
Lowry on DeMar’s performance: “I mean, he’s an All-Star, y’all see it. He’s an All-Star for a reason… We know, we’ve seen it before”
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) February 2, 2014
Despite the loss, Derozan and Lowry both combined for 59 points this evening. Toronto will hope to bounce bounce back Monday night against the Utah Jazz. That game will be their third of a five game road trip.
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