Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry only had high praises for his close friend and former teammate DeMar DeRozan who is now suiting up for the San Antonio Spurs after the two teams' encounter early in the season.

DeRozan recently reminded the Raptors what they were missing out on and ultimately improved to a 3-2 individual record against his former team since being traded back in 2018.

“He played his butt off. He pretty much won the game for them — 27 points and eight assists and he kinda picked us apart,” Lowry said via SportsNet. “I think throughout the years I’ve known him, played with him, played against him in the last couple, I think he just continues [to grow] … he’s become more of a playmaker, and I think that’s his strength right now, is still being able to score but he’s able to play make for everybody else and make life easier for the other guys, like role players, and getting guys the ball where they need it and getting them open looks and giving them confidence to be good.”

The Raptors were seemingly in control of the game in the fourth quarter but DeRozan scored a total of 10 points on four attempts from the field in the final 4:35. The Texas-based squad then quickly mounted a 9-0 run with 1:20 left in the game to diminish the Raptors' lead.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, DeRozan came out huge once again as he grabbed a rebound which led to the go-ahead bucket made by LaMarcus Aldridge. DeRozan finished the game with 27 points, five rebounds, and eight assists through 36 minutes played en route to a narrow 119-114 victory.

Thanks to DeRozan's heroics, the Spurs now improved to a 2-0 record while the Raptors slid to a winless 0-2 tally. Kyle Lowry and the rest of the team will have to get back on track as they aim for their first victory of the season against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 29.