Off the wire
• Over 1 million liters of illegally produced tequila seized in Mexico  • Venezuela's electoral authority strikes blow to opposition's attempt to oust president  • China Focus: China's e-pharmacy eyes prescription drug for full-bloom growth  • Peru's presidential race likely headed for runoff  • Mexico nabs cartel regional leader  • Across China: Breaking clay vats to destroy poverty  • Colombia's FARC rebels reject fixed deadline for disarmament  • LatAm countries call for oil price stability  • Political crisis will not harm Rio Olympics: Rousseff  • Xinhua China news advisory -- April 9  
You are here: 　 Home

Rookie duo leads Raptors to most home wins in franchise history

Xinhua, April 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Toronto Raptors rookies Norman Powell and Delon Wright had career nights in the team's 111-98 victory over Indiana Pacers on Friday evening.

Powell scored a career-best 27 points on 14-19 from the free throw line while Wright added a career-best of 19 points to give the team the victory.

The win was Toronto's 31st victory at Air Canada Centre this season, surpassing the former franchise record of 30 home victories by the 2006-07 squad.

After recording 13 home wins during the shortened 2011-12 season, the team have increased their home win total each season. Toronto recorded 21 wins in 2012-13, 26 wins in 2013-14, and 27 increase in the 2014-15 campaign.

With starters Luis Scola, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry all resting against Pacers on Friday, the rookie tandem were provided a bigger role in the game.

"They came out and played. I thought the young guys came out and played with a lot of effort and a lot of intensity," said Raptors head coach Dwane Casey following the game in Toronto. "Just because those other guys are out, everyone still has a job to do. We want to play at a high level, not vacation mode."

With four games remaining in the season, Toronto's playoff seeding is nearly set. Barring a meltdown from Cleveland, Toronto will finish as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference.

Toronto currently ranks fourth in the NBA for home victories with 31. They trail San Antonio (39-0), Golden State (38-2) and Cleveland (32-7).

Air Canada Center has now sold out for 76 consecutive games since Nov. 11, 2014, including all 40 games this season. The team has tied the 2000-01 record for sellouts in a season with 40 games.

Toronto has one final home game to exceed the mark and be the first season to sell-out every game of the season. Endi