NBA scores 2014: Raptor guards carry team over Clippers and 3 other things we learned

Also, Kemba Walker set a career-high and DeMarcus Cousins is back looking like he never left.

Dec 28, 2014, 2:00 PM UTC

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors to a two-point lead in a game against the Clippers headed into the fourth quarter. His backups put it away.

Greivis Vasquez and Lou Williams combined for 15 points in the final frame, each hitting two 3-pointers early on to extend Toronto's lead and provide a comfortable finish to the Raptors' 110-98 road win. Lowry only needed to score two points in the quarter, still finishing with a fantastic night -- 25 points, 9-17 shooting, seven assists, three rebounds and three steals.

No one was quite sure how the Raptors would cope when they lost second-leading scorer DeMar DeRozan to a groin injury on Nov. 28, but they've won 10 of 14 games since then and stay firmly entrenched as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Lowry is a huge reason why, of course. He's picked his game up across the board -- from 18.6 points before DeRozan was injured to 22.1 since while upping his assists from 6.4 to 9 per game, all while maintaining a field goal percentage right around 45 percent.

His backups have been equally important. Coming off the bench in every game so far, Williams has emerged as a reliable go-to offensive option behind Lowry, able to use his unwavering confidence to bail out a possession or nail a game-altering shot. Vasquez has been streaky this season and his shooting below his career averages, but when he’s on his game he can turn the Raptors second unit lethal.

It was never more obvious than that fourth quarter. Vasquez started it off, nailing a 3-point jumper then a long two. A play later off a long rebound, Vasquez pulled up in transition well behind the line and buried another. Later in the quarter, Williams came out of a timeout to hit back-to-back bombs -- both assisted by Lowry -- that all but sealed the game.

Saturday’s win against the Clippers was exactly what Toronto needed as they start one of the toughest five-game road trips any team will have this season. On Sunday, they’ll play in Denver, followed by trips to Portland, Golden State and Phoenix.

Guard play will be crucial for the Raptors to survive the trip out west, but so far this season, they’ve shown they’re up to the task.

3 other things we learned

Marc Gasol helps Memphis get back on track. The Grizzlies entered Saturday with a surprising four-game losing streak that had doubled their losses in 2014. It was the always reliable Gasol who came through with a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double to return Memphis to the win column, just as he's done all season. He also came up with a crucial block on Mario Chalmers in the final minute, as Miami, down four, tried to extend the game with a quick layup. Now, the Grizzlies get a couple of days off before facing the Spurs in a rematch of that crazy triple-overtime game earlier this month.

Boogie bails out the Kings. With a 14-point fourth quarter lead, Sacramento never should have needed overtime to beat the Knicks. But to overtime they went, and once there, DeMarcus Cousins made it very clear his team was going to be the one emerging with a victory. With the game tied at 126, he made a gorgeous cross-court pass from the block to Darren Collison for a go-ahead 3-pointer. On the next play, he spun out of the post for a vicious one-handed dunk. After missing the previous game with a stomach issue, it's good to have him back.

Kemba Walker's career night can't help the Hornets beat Orlando. At halftime, Walker had seven points and showed no signs that this night was going to be anything but ordinary. Walker exploded for 35 in the second half to finish with a career-high 42 points, single-handedly keeping Charlotte close against a feisty Magic team. However, his efforts weren't enough in the end to overcome his team's shoddy defense that allowed Orlando to shoot 45.8 percent and only commit six turnovers the entire game.

Play of the Night

#KingsReplay: DeMarcus Cousins posterizes Dalembert! #SacramentoPRoud #NBABallot https://t.co/Hc8uvHBMuk
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) December 28, 2014