Chris Boucher leads Raptors in rout of Kings

The Toronto Raptors capped off a seven-game homestand with their fourth win and three season highs on Monday.

TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors capped off a seven-game homestand with their fourth win and three season highs on Monday.

Chris Boucher scored 17 as the Raptors poured in a season-high 70 points in the first half to cruise to a 124-101 win against the Sacramento Kings before 19,463 at Scotiabank Arena.

Not only did their 70-point opening half surpass the 67 they scored in the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 24, but the Raptors also set season highs in bench points with 53 and team assists at 28. The previous highs in those categories were 38 bench points in Golden State on Nov. 21 and 27 assists, a mark hit twice this fall.

“That was a good one,” Raptors guard Fred VanVleet said. “You probably get a couple of those a year. It seemed like we have seen a lot of those in the past, but we’ll take what we can get.

“I thought we came out with a professional approach, set the tone early, and we were just able to control it from there. But everybody who stepped on the floor tonight contributed in a major way.”

All five Toronto starters scored in double figures. In addition to Boucher’s 17, Scottie Barnes and Pascal Siakam popped in 16 points apiece. VanVleet scored 12, and Gary Trent Jr. added 10.

“When they play with that much pace and energy, they were just everywhere,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said. “They were cutting really hard on offence. They were jarring the ball away, running hard.

“All five of them were just bringing tremendous energy, and that’s kinda what they have to do, and when they do it, they can do a really good job out three.