Raptors 106, Knicks 89: DeMar DeRozan stayed hot with 23 points as host Toronto rolled past New York.

Tyler Hansbrough broke out for a season-high 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting for the Raptors, who led wire-to-wire to stay within three games of Cleveland in the race for second place in the Eastern Conference. Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 10 rebounds while Lou Williams collected 13 points off the bench as Toronto survived its second straight game without All-Star guard Kyle Lowry (back).

Lance Thomas scored a career-high 24 points to lead New York, which has lost three in a row. Former Raptors player Andrea Bargnani chipped in 16 points and Langston Galloway had nine and seven assists.

DeRozan scored 10 points in the first quarter and hit a foul shot after a technical was given to Knicks head coach Derek Fisher to give Toronto a 44-31 lead midway through the second. DeRozan's jumper at the buzzer pushed the Raptors' lead to 56-41 and Hansbrough had a three-point play late in the third to keep it a 15-point margin.

The Knicks scored the final seven points of the period and pulled within 78-72 on Ricky Ledo's three-point play with 9:46 left, but Ross answered with one of his own to ignite a 12-0 spurt. DeRozan began another spurt with a 3-pointer with four minutes to go and Toronto coasted to the finish.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Lowry was active for the prior game against Chicago but did not see any action as he recovers from a back injury suffered Wednesday against Minnesota. ... DeRozan has reached the 20-point mark in five straight games. ... Toronto was 24-of-29 from the foul line, while New York went 11-of-16.