The Raptors used a big run in the first quarter to build a comfortable lead, then Shawn Marion took over in the third quarter as Toronto buried the Oklahoma Thunder 112-96 last night.
Marion, who had 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the third, finished the game with 20 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Raptors to their third straight victory. Chris Bosh also recorded a double-double, with 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists for the Raptors, who matched their longest winning streak of the season. Toronto (27-45) entered the third quarter with a 51-40 lead, and they quickly extended it as Marion dunked off a long feed from Bosh and Andrea Bargnani nailed a three-pointer.
The Raptors were up by 21 points at the 6:48 mark. The Thunder managed to get as close as 14 points but Marion reeled off six points in the final three minutes of the quarter, including a running slam dunk, to restore the Raptors' lead to 19 at the end of the third.
The Raptors, who were 8-of-18 from the three-point line, didn't look back in the fourth, extending their lead to 25 points before sitting all their starters.
Jason Kapono added 15 points for Toronto, Bargnani had 12 points and nine rebounds and Anthony Parker had 12 points. Jose Calderon, who was bothered by a sore finger after Wednesday's win over the Milwaukee Bucks, finished with seven points and nine assists.
The Thunder (26-46) were lead on the scoresheet by Nick Collison with 21 points and seven rebounds. The Raptors managed to hold Kevin Durant to 18 points on 4-for-13 shooting. Durant had come into the game as the league's fourth-leading scorer with 25.9 points per game.
