Heading into tonight’s game against the Bucks in Milwaukee, it felt unlikely DeMar DeRozan would top his 52-point career night from Monday. It stands as a singular accomplishment for the Raptors as a franchise. Given the chance, how could he or the rest of the team attempt to surpass it? Could they surpass it? Numbers-wise, no, but emotionally — well, maybe.
As it turns out, the Raptors didn’t need a franchise scoring record or an overtime period this time against the Bucks. Instead, they blew the doors off Milwaukee, 129-110, with some different, but no less satisfying, performances — one from DeRozan again, the other from an unlikely source: Jonas Valanciunas.