DeRozan joins Carter as only Raptors to score 2K points in a season
DeMar DeRozan lit up the New York Knicks and carved his name into the history books.
The Toronto Raptors star scored 15 points in the first quarter Sunday at Madison Square Garden to become just the second player in Raptors history to notch 2,000 points in a campaign.
Vince Carter is the only other player to accomplish the feat in the franchise's 22 years of existence, and he did it twice (1999-00 and 2000-01).
Related: DeRozan breaks another Vince Carter franchise record
.@DeMar_DeRozan drops 35 points in 29 min as the @Raptors beat the Knicks to clinch the No. 3 seed in East. pic.twitter.com/nLKLeOGw9E
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 9, 2017
DeRozan clearly enjoys playing at the Garden, as he finished with 35 points on a highly efficient 11-of-15 shooting from the field and 13-of-15 from the charity stripe in Sunday's 110-97 triumph, which clinched a top-3 spot for the Raptors. DeRozan had 37 points and sunk the game-winner in a 92-91 victory at MSG on Feb. 27. And so, he became the first player to notch multiple 35-point games at MSG since Allen Iverson in 2005-06.
Related: Kobe says it's up to DeRozan to inspire next generation
The 27-year-old All-Star's having a career year after re-signing in the offseason. He's averaging 27.2 points (fifth in the NBA) to go along with 5.3 rebounds, four dimes, and 1.1 steals, and has broken multiple Toronto franchise records.
Another one is on the table. DeRozan needs 50 more points in the team's final game - Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers - to overtake Carter for the highest scoring average in a season. The now-Memphis Grizzlies swingman's 27.6 points per game in 2000-01 is the current record.