Raptors Beat Lakers, 102-93, To End Slide

TORONTO (AP) — Kyle Lowry had 27 points, Terrence Ross added 22 and Bismack Biyombo posted a career-high 15 points and 13 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors snapped a three-game skid with a 102-93 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.

In what was almost certainly his last NBA appearance in Canada, Kobe Bryant shot 8 of 16 for 21 points as the Raptors swept the season series from the Lakers for the first time.

Bryant's every touch drew chants almost throughout, and his only successful 3-pointer was met with thunderous applause in the fourth quarter as the Lakers attempted to mount a rally. Bryant exited for the final time with 24.6 seconds remaining to a standing ovation.

As chants of "We want Kobe!" rang out in the second quarter while Bryant spent time on the bench, Lowry scored 16 points to give Toronto a halftime lead for only the seventh time in 22 games this season, 52-42. But the Lakers responded with 29 points in the third to even it 71-all entering the final 12 minutes.

After D'Angelo Russell's 3-pointer for the Lakers tied it at 78, the Raptors took the lead for good on a powerful, one-handed dunk from Ross with 6:55 to play.

It was Ross, in his first start of the season and playing in place of injured DeMarre Carroll, who paced Toronto through the first quarter, shooting 3 for 5 from 3-point range and scoring 13 points.

Lakers coach Byron Scott attempted to shake up his team before the game, dropping Russell and second-year forward Julius Randle from the starting lineup and replacing them with Lou Williams and Larry Nance Jr. Russell, the second overall pick in this year's draft, and Randle, the seventh selection in 2014, had previously started every game.

Randle scored 15 points off the bench.

Scott said he was looking for a little more "energy" and "aggressiveness" from his starters, announcing that he'll keep Russell and Randle on the bench for the next five to 10 games before re-evaluating the situation.

With the Lakers owning a 3-17 record coming into the game, Scott said the decision was "based on where we are as a team."

TIP-INS

Lakers: Los Angeles is five games into its longest road trip in terms of games (eight) and days away from home (13) since a nine-game swing in 2007-08. . The loss dropped the Lakers to 3-9 against Eastern Conference teams. . Williams returned to Toronto for the first time since winning the NBA's Sixth Man of the Year award last season with the Raptors.

Raptors: Toronto carried a lead into the second quarter for the first time in seven games. . Toronto announced before the game that Carroll will miss an indefinite period of time with a bruised right knee. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Ross. ... After setting a career high with 14 points in Saturday's loss to Golden State, backup center Lucas Nogeira (left ankle) also sat out.

UP NEXT

Lakers: At Minnesota on Wednesday.

Raptors: Host San Antonio on Wednesday.

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