The regular Raptors third-quarter implosion was well under way. A 19-point halftime lead had been pared to two and the “oh, no, here they go again” sect was in full throat.
They had seen it last week in New York, and again in Indiana, and the awkward feeling that hung in the Air Canada Centre air was almost palpable.
And then DeMar DeRozan did what he does, scoring six straight points before Kyle Lowry hit a three-pointer that was part of a career night for him. That returned some sort of normalcy to what ultimately turned into a 126-113 Raptors win over the Charlotte Hornets.