DeRozan notches 2nd 40-point game of season
DeMar DeRozan continued his ridiculous scoring pace Wednesday night, collecting his second 40-point game of the season in a win over the Washington Wizards. The two-time All-Star finished the night with 40 points on 14-of-23 shooting with five rebounds, five assists, and two steals, while knocking down his first 3-pointer of the year.
The Toronto Raptors shooting guard finds himself among elite company with his fourth straight 30-plus-point game to start the season, joining Kevin Durant (2011), Kobe Bryant (2005), and Michael Jordan (1986) as the last four players to do so. The USC product also equaled a franchise record by recording his fourth straight game of 30 points or greater, tying Mike James' 10-year-old mark.
At 36.3 points per game, DeRozan ranks third in the league in scoring, and could find himself atop the NBA by day's end should Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis struggle from the field Wednesday.
After signing a five-year, $139-million contract in the summer, he's entered the season more focused than ever - something he credits to hard work and experience.
"I've been in all kinds of situations," DeRozan said in a postgame interview. "From Eastern Conference Finals, then All-Star, to winning a gold medal, there's not much I haven't seen. I try to put all this together when I come out on the court."
DeRozan will look to make it five straight games of 30 or more Friday, when the Raptors take on the Miami Heat at the Air Canada Centre.