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TORONTO, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points in the team's 105-102 comeback victory over the Denver Nuggets in NBA action on Monday.
After leading by 19 points in the second quarter, the Raptors surrendered the lead and trailed 99-93 at the midpoint of the fourth quarter.
DeRozan and teammate Kyle Lowry scored all of the team's final twelve points to complete the comeback and improve the team's record to 2-1 on the young season.
Lowry finished with 29 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds, while DeRozan recorded his third straight game of 30-plus points. The 27-year-old opened the season with 40 points against Detroit on Oct. 26 and added 32 points in a losing effort against Cleveland on Oct. 28.
Incredibly, DeRozan has yet to score a three-point basket this season, making him the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2005 to begin a season with 30-plus points in three consecutive games without a three-pointer.
"His offensive force that he's been playing with has been unreal," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey following the victory. "DeMar is playing at a very high level offensively. His leadership has been big time," he said.
Over three games, the Los Angeles native is averaging 35 points a game, tied with Portland's Damian Lillard for third best in the league. The pair trail only Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook (38.7) and New Orleans' Anthony Davis (37.7), who have both scored 50-plus points in a game this season.
DeRozan is currently in the first year of the second biggest contract in NBA history. The two-time all-star signed a five-year 139 million U.S. dollar deal in the offseason to remain in Toronto.
