DeMar DeRozan’s start for Toronto is Jordanesque

DeMar DeRozan continued his hot start with with 34 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the visiting Miami Heat, 96-87, on Friday night.

It was a team-record fifth straight 30-plus-point game for DeRozan, the NBA’s leading scorer coming into the game averaging 36.3 points. Mike James had four straight 30-plus-point games for Toronto in 2005.

According to the Elias Sport Bureau, the last player to start a season with five games with at least 30 points was Michael Jordan from Nov. 1-11, 1986.

New York 117, at Chicago 104: Kristaps Porzingis had 27 points and Carmelo Anthony added 25 to help the Knicks win in the return of Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah to Chicago. Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 35 points and has made more three-pointers (10) in his first five games with Chicago than he made with Miami last season.

San Antonio 100, at Utah 86: Kawhi Leonard scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds as the Spurs avenged their lone loss of the season. LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 points and the Spurs bounced back from a 15-point home loss to the Jazz on Tuesday after losing only one game in San Antonio last season.

at Washington 95, Atlanta 92: Bradley Beal scored 20 of his 28 points after halftime, and the Wizards finally gave new Coach Scott Brooks his first victory with the team. Beal averaged only 14 points during Washington’s 0-3 start, but he made 13 of 14 free throws.

Charlotte 99, at Brooklyn 95: Kemba Walker scored a season-high 30 points and the Hornets improved their best start in 16 years to 4-1. Nicolas Batum added 18 points and nine rebounds, and Marvin Williams, who missed his first 10 shots, made a three-pointer with 1:05 left after the Nets had cut the lead to one point.

Phoenix 112, at New Orleans 111 (OT): Devin Booker scored 38 points, including an improbable jumper that tied the score as regulation expired and the Suns kept the Pelicans winless (0-6).

Portland 105, at Dallas 95: Damian Lillard scored 27 of his season-high 42 points in the second half and Trail Blazers sent the Mavericks to the first 0-5 start in franchise history. With backcourt mate C.J. McCollum saddled with foul trouble for most of the game, Lillard had 18 of Portland’s 25 points during a 14-minute stretch of the second half.