DeRozan records 1st career triple-double in blowout of Raptors
DeMar DeRozan saved a special performance for a team that unceremoniously shipped him off over the summer when the Toronto Raptors visited AT&T Center on Thursday night.
The four-time All-Star finished with the first triple-double of his 10-year career, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 125-107 victory over Toronto.
In 33 minutes of action, DeRozan notched 21 points on 7-of-15 shooting, and he also recorded 14 rebounds and 11 assists.
"I got great shooters around me," DeRozan told the NBA on TNT during his postgame interview. "My teammates are always finding openings for me to find them, and I give them the courage every single time I pass the ball for them to shoot it. They knock it down, they make me look good, so all the credit goes to them for sure."
🔥 @DeMar_DeRozan notches his 1st career triple-double with 21 PTS, 14 REB, 11 AST in the @spurs home victory! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/BcNEX0Abqn
— NBA (@NBA) January 4, 2019
Wednesday marked the third game of the season that DeRozan dished out 10-plus assists. He failed to accomplish that even once during his final year north of the border.
He becomes the first Spurs player since 2003 (Tim Duncan) to finish with a triple-double at home, and the fourth player (Duncan, Pau Gasol, and Tony Parker) to post one under the tutelage of head coach Gregg Popovich.
The 29-year-old returns to Toronto for the first time as a Spur on Feb. 22.