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Raptors bench dominate Clippers to push streak to 8

Xinhua, January 25, 2016 Adjust font size:

Toronto Raptors' bench overmatched Los Angeles Clippers 112-94 to win their eighth consecutive game in Sunday evening NBA action.

Toronto's bench scored a season-high 51 points to help the team improve to 15-6 at Air Canada Center this season and 29-15 overall.

"We got off to a sluggish start, which is the opposite of what our starters had been doing," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey following the game in Toronto.

"The second unit came in and changed the game; started getting into bodies and getting into players, being physical."

After trailing 32-19 in the final minute of the first quarter, Toronto's second unit aided the team with a 26-point swing to end the half with a 62-49 lead.

Clippers were able to cut the lead to four in the middle of the third quarter, but Toronto pulled ahead at the end of the quarter to lead by double-digits for the duration of the fourth quarter.

"We are playing team basketball," said Raptors guard Terrence Ross, who scored 18-points off the bench. "It's halfway through the season so we all know how we play."

Along with Ross, reserves Patrick Patterson (10), Bismack Biyombo (10) and Cory Joseph (12) all came off the bench with double-digits in scoring.

In total, Raptors bench outscored Clippers 51-29 during the game, compared to the starters being outscored by Clippers' starters 65-61.

Entering the game, the bench averaged 26.7 points per game, third worst in the league. Over the past six games, Toronto's bench has averaged 36 points per game.

"The second unit got their togetherness, their rhythm and their chemistry going that we're going to need down the road."

Raptors will need the bench to continue their recent production level to keep their win streak going.

Toronto is one win away from tying the franchise-record for most wins in a row. Raptors won nine in a row from March 22 to April 9 in 2002. Endi