CHARLOTTE, N.C. _ Maybe Sunday's Charlotte Hornets loss was predestined when the NBA schedule came out, but the extent to which the Toronto Raptors clobbered the home team was striking.
The Hornets opened this matinee with a 10-0 run. That's the last you saw of their chances to break what is now a four-game losing streak. The Raptors blew away the Hornets, 123-103, at Spectrum Center.
The third quarter settled this one, when the Hornets made just seven of their 22 attempts from the field. Meanwhile, the Raptors, contenders to win the Eastern Conference, shot 11-of-22 in those 12 minutes. Toronto (39-16) led by as many as 36 points.
The Hornets were coming off a four-game trip around the Western Conference, in which they went 1-3. They are now 23-33.
DeMar DeRozan finished with 25 points for the Raptors. Point guard Kemba Walker totaled 23 points and nine assists for the Hornets, and center Dwight Howard added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
