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Wednesday, March 15, 2017
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Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) hits two over Dallas Mavericks forward Dwight Powell (7) during their NBA clash on Monday. GETTY IMAGES
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TORONTO – DeMar DeRozan isn’t about to start projecting playoff matchups.
Toronto is fourth in the Eastern Conference with 15 games remaining and moving past Boston or Washington for second or third would likely mean avoiding a second-round matchup with defending champion Cleveland.
But DeRozan was having none of it, particularly after his team lost four of its previous six games before a 100-78 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night.
”You look at top four, everybody right there,” DeRozan said after his 25-point outing. ”Somebody have a great week and somebody have a bad week and it can switch quick. It’s a lot of games left, and we’ve got to treat every single one like it’s our last.”
The Raptors led by 13 entering the fourth quarter, then opened the period with a 10-2 run that extended the lead to 21 in the opener of the Mavericks’ four-game road swing.
Toronto held Dallas to just 36.5 percent shooting from the floor and outrebounded the Mavericks 46-27 on the defensive glass.
The Mavericks, fighting for a playoff spot but sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference with 16 games to play, lost starting forward Wesley Matthews with a right calf strain with 1:07 to play in the first half.
Dallas fell to 8-23 on the road and has lost its last five away from American Airlines Center. Harrison Barnes scored 18 points for the Mavericks, with Dirk Nowitzki chipping in just 17. (AP)
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