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SPORTS Monday 23 January 2017

Bledsoe’s career day leads

Suns over Raptors 115-103

PAUL ATTFIELD after 12 minutes.
Associated Press DeRozan led the way in the
TORONTO (AP) — Eric Bled- second quarter, going 4 of
soe scored a career-high 5 from the floor for 12 points
40 points and had 13 as- as the Raptors built their
sists and the Phoenix Suns lead to seven on a driv-
handed the Toronto Rap- ing layup with 1:51 to play
tors their third straight loss, in the half. The Suns coun-
115-103 on Sunday night. tered with a 10-4 run to go
Bledsoe was 11 of 17 from into the interval down 60-
the floor, including 4 of 7 57.
from 3-point range, and The Raptors extended their
Devin Booker added 20 lead to seven in the third
points as the Suns won their but only shot 36.8 percent
second straight road game from the floor and were un-
following Saturday’s win able to pull away, settling
at New York. The victory for an 85-82 edge after 36
also completed a season minutes.
sweep of the Raptors for TIP-INS
the first time since 2013-14 Suns: One night after set-
and improved Phoenix to ting the mark, Chandler
11-6 against Eastern Con- ended his franchise record
ference teams this season. and career high of con- Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) drives past Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry during first-half
DeMar DeRozan had 22 secutive 15-plus rebound NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017.
points for Toronto and Jo- games at seven with nine Associated Press
nas Valanciunas added 16 rebounds on the night. ...
points and 12 rebounds for F Dragan Bender left with
his 17th double-double of 9:03 remaining in the sec-
the season. It’s the first time ond quarter with a sore
the Raptors have lost three right ankle and did not re-
straight since Nov. 6-10, turn.
2015. Raptors: F Patrick Patterson
Kyle Lowry was ejected (left knee) missed his sixth
with 1:30 left after a fla- consecutive game. ... The
grant-two foul following Raptors got double-digit
contact with the head of points from all five of their
Brandon Knight. It capped starting players.
a night to forget for Lowry, HOME AT LAST
who had 15 points but shot Toronto’s prized free-agent
just 5 of 17, including 1 of 9 signing Jared Sullinger
from 3-point range. played his first home game
Toronto led from the 2:13 for the Raptors on Sunday
mark of the second quarter night. After missing the first
until the Suns tied it at 95 on 41 games of the season fol-
a banked hook shot from lowing left foot surgery, the
Tyson Chandler with 7:29 to forward made his debut
play. After DeMarre Carroll in Friday’s loss in Charlotte
and Bledsoe exchanged before entering the fray
baskets, Phoenix went on Sunday with 3:56 to play
an 18-6 run the rest of the in the first. He ultimately
way to take the game played 13 minutes, scoring
away from the Raptors. nine points.
After falling behind on DRAWING LEVEL
Bledsoe’s 3-pointer just 19 With 22 points Sunday,
seconds in, the Raptors re- DeRozan tied Chris Bosh
sponded with a 12-0 run, for second in franchise his-
punctuated by a spectac- tory with 265 games with at
ular alley-oop dunk by Lu- least 20 points. Vince Cart-
cas Nogueira from Lowry’s er leads the way with 273
pass. The Raptors led 31-28 such games.q