Jeremy Lin had another impressive game, but it was not enough to lead his team to a victory as the Los Angeles Lakers took a 93-84 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday at Air Canada Centre in Ontario, Canada.
Lin, who started for the Lakers for the third consecutive game, finished with 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and five assists, but did not get enough support from his teammates.
Rookie guard Jordan Clarkson was only the other double-digit scorer for the Lakers with 14 points. Wayne Ellington added nine points, while Ed Davis posted eight points off the bench for the Lakers, who absorbed their 52nd defeat of the season.
But despite losing on Friday night, Lin was a bright spot for the Lakers. The 26-year-old point guard has averaged 21.3 points to go along with 5.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds in their last four games. The former Harvard University point guard will likely start in their final 11 games of the season.
Jonas Valanciunas was the biggest torn for the Lakers as the starting center finished with 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field to go along with seven rebounds, while Lou Williams provided a huge lift off the bench with his 18 points and four assists.
James Johnson also had an outstanding night for the Raptors as he tallied 17 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Starting forwards Amir Johnson and Terrence Ross added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
With the win, the Raptors improved to 43-30 and have clinched their second consecutive Atlantic Division title with still nine games left to play in the season.
The Raptors, who will look to keep their momentum when they host the Houston Rockets on Monday, are currently in fourth spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
They are just one-game behind the 44-29 Chicago Bulls for the third spot. The Atlanta Hawks are on top of the conference with their 55-17 record, followed by the 47-27 Cleveland Cavaliers.
On the other hand, the Lakers are still at the cellar of the Western Conference standings - 14th place and are only ahead of the 16-56 Minnesota Timberwolves. The struggling Lakers, who played without superstar Kobe Bryant for the majority of the season, hold the fourth-worst record in the league at this point.
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