Lowry Leads Raptors to Win Over Bulls

BY ESPN

CHICAGO -- The Toronto Raptors rolled into the All-Star break knowing the toughest part is yet to come. They'll take where they are at the moment -- staring down at the rest of the Eastern Conference.

Kyle Lowry had 20 points and 10 assists, Serge Ibaka also scored 20 points and the Raptors cruised into the break with their seventh straight victory, 122-98 over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.

"We just have to keep it going," coach Dwane Casey said. "We haven't done anything. ... It's even harder from here on out, and that's why (we're) not jumping up and down. We have a goal. We haven't finished it yet."

Lowry made four 3-pointers, and he and Ibaka each had seven rebounds.

Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and nine rebounds to help the Raptors complete a four-game sweep against Chicago even though they only got seven points from four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. But Toronto dished out a season-high 38 assists and shot just over 52 percent against a weak defense, sending the Bulls to their ninth loss in 11 games.

"We're heading in the right direction," DeRozan said. "But at the same time, we still understand how much we need to clean up on the defensive end and the offensive end. As long as we keep that mindset anytime we step out there, whether it's a practice or a game. We understand we're trying to get better. It kind of carries us."

Bobby Portis scored 18 points for Chicago, and Lauri Markkanen had 14. The Bulls were simply overmatched by the Eastern Conference leaders, even though they had point guard Kris Dunn back in the lineup. He finished with eight points and three assists in 20 minutes after missing 11 games because of a concussion.

"Poor effort," coach Fred Hoiberg said. "I talked to the guys, win or lose you got to walk in the locker room after the game and look each other in the eye and say you were the harder playing team. We were not tonight."

BREAKING IT OPEN

The Raptors took a 61-49 lead to the locker room after outscoring the Bulls by 18 in the second quarter.

DeRozan ended a quiet first half with a neat 12-footer, faking David Nwaba and Justin Holiday while leaning in for the basket as time expired.

The Raptors continued to pull away in the third. Lowry converted a four-point play and answered a three-point play by Markkanen by nailing another 3 to make it 75-57 three minutes into the quarter.

Pacers 108, Nets 103

NEW YORK -- The Indiana Pacers were not expected to be in this position.

After trading one of the best two-way players in Paul George last summer, Indiana was widely predicted to finish near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Instead, the Pacers head to the All-Star break just a half-game out of fourth place.

Victor Oladipo, one of the main pieces acquired for George in the deal with Oklahoma City, downplayed his new club's success after scoring 15 of his 25 points in the second half to lead Indiana past the Brooklyn Nets 108-103 on Wednesday night.

"Nothing. We ain't accomplish anything," the first-time All-Star said. "Got a lot more work to do. A lot more things to get done. It's great, don't get me wrong. You know, 33 tough wins in the NBA is tough. It's nothing. It's just one half of the season."

Oladipo, who was selected as a reserve, will be in Los Angeles this weekend to suit up alongside George, who was chosen as an injury replacement on LeBron James' squad.

Cory Joseph added 15 points and 11 assists, and Myles Turner had 11 points and 14 boards for the Pacers, who won their third straight.

Joseph, who was part of the 2014 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, echoed Oladipo's sentiments about getting too excited after improving their record to 33-25.

"It doesn't mean nothing yet until playoffs time comes, until 82 games," he said. "We go trip off after the break, then it doesn't mean nothing. We just got to stay mentally prepared, especially coming back from the break."

Indiana could have starting point guard Darren Collison back after the All-Star break. Collinson underwent arthroscopic surgery in his left knee last week.

Allen Crabbe scored 23 points for the Nets, who went into the break with their seventh straight loss.

DeMarre Carroll added 21 points and D'Angelo Russell chipped in 18 points and nine assists off the bench for Brooklyn.

Oladipo, a favorite for Most Improved Player honors, tried to put the Nets away by himself, scoring nine straight points to give the Pacers a 67-61 advantage midway through the third quarter before Brooklyn answered to take a 79-73 lead heading into the final period.

The Nets led 95-93 after Crabbe's 3-pointer with 4:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, but their offense sputtered, missing eight shots during a four-minute stretch.

"I think we got the shots we wanted and we missed some. We had some costly turnovers," Crabbe said. "It's frustrating . We keep putting ourselves in a good situation to win and we come up short."

The Pacers, who entered the day sixth in the Eastern Conference playoff race, went on a 6-0 run to take a 99-95 lead after Turner's free throws with 2:17 left in regulation.

The Nets got within two points with 1:04 to go after Spencer Dinwiddie hit a pair of free throws, but Indiana scored five straight points, capped with 26 seconds left.

Wednesday, February 14 Scoreboard

Detroit 104, Atlanta 98

Charlotte 104, Orlando 102

Philadephia 104, Miami 102

Indiana 108, Brooklyn 103

Washington 118, New York 113

Los  Angeles Clippers 129, Boston 119

Toronto 122, Chicago 98

Houston 100, Sacramento 91

Oklahoma City 121, Memphis 114

New Orleans 139, Los Angeles Lakers 117

Utah 107, Phoenix 97

Portland 123, Golden State 117

Thursday, February 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

Denver at MIlwaukee, 7 p.m.

Los Angeles Clippers at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Friday, February 16 Schedule (All Times Central)

World vs. USA, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 17

No games scheduled

Sunday, February 18

No games scheduled