Raptors (49-23), Pelicans (26-46)
In two head-to-head matchups this season, Toronto has put the defensive clamps on New Orleans, holding the Pelicans to two of their lowest-scoring games of 2015-16. It was a bit easier to do so Saturday than during the November meeting in Canada, with New Orleans playing without all of its top six scorers. The Raptors took advantage by building a double-digit lead in the first half and never looking back. The Pelicans managed only 36 first-half points and shot just 34.9 percent prior to intermission. New Orleans scored a season-low 81 points in Toronto and had just 61 through three quarters in the Crescent City this time.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan threw down a soaring alley oop dunk, which could earn a spot on SportsCenter later, giving the Raptors a 67-44 lead halfway through the third quarter. Toronto stretched its advantage out to 85-61 by the end of the period. Toronto’s 49th win ties a franchise record, with 10 more games left to become the first-ever 50-win Raptors team.
PELICANS PLAYER OF THE GAME
Alonzo Gee provided a jolt of energy and offensive aggressiveness, repeatedly trying to take the ball to the rim for point-blank looks. Two days after registering his season high with 17 points at Indiana, the forward-turned-shooting-guard-out-of-necessity notched 18 points on 8/12 shooting from the field. Gee had five dunks and three layups.
PELICANS UNSUNG CONTRIBUTOR
Making his debut as a Pelican after officially signing Friday, guard Jordan Hamilton helped make the home team’s final scoring output more respectable. Hamilton dropped in nine points in the fourth quarter, giving him a total of 11.
