Brooks scores 27 points as Rockets beat Raptors 114-110 for first win in Toronto since 2019

TORONTO (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, Jalen Green had 22 and the Houston Rockets won in Toronto for the first time in more than five years by beating the struggling Raptors 114-110 on Sunday night.

Alperen Sengun had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who hadn’t won in Toronto since Dec. 5, 2019. Current Rockets guard Fred VanVleet scored 20 points for the reigning NBA-champion Raptors in that game.

Ja’Kobe Walter fouled out with a career-high 27 points and Chris Boucher and Ochai Agbaji each added 15 as Toronto’s losing streak reached seven. The Raptors have lost six straight at home.

Walter scored Toronto’s first 14 points of the game, a run that ended when Gradey Dick made a free throw with 7:06 remaining in the opening period.

Jamal Shead had 11 points and a career-high 10 assists for the Raptors.

Toronto’s RJ Barrett missed his second straight game because of an illness.

Rockets: VanVleet was injured when the Rockets lost at Toronto last season. In his first appearance as a visitor, he had eight rebounds and five assists but didn’t score until the final minute of the game. VanVleet shot 1 for 10, missing all five of his 3-point attempts.

Raptors: Scottie Barnes had 10 rebounds but scored only six points. He shot 2 for 15 and went 0 for 8 from distance, missing his first eight field goal attempts.

Sengun fed Cam Whitmore for a one-handed alley-oop dunk that gave Houston a 99-91 lead, its biggest of the game at that point, with 6:58 left in the fourth quarter.

Houston allowed 23 points on 14 turnovers in the first half. It cleaned things up after the break, but its 21 turnovers were a season-worst.

Both teams play on the road Monday, with Houston in Charlotte and Toronto visiting New York.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) looks to shoot over Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead (23) during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, bottom, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, top, as he dives for the ball during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, bottom, is fouled by Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks, top, as he dives for the ball during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Gradey Dick, front right, and Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) vie for the ball during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) fouls Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter (14) during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Boucher (25) is fouled on his way to the hoop between Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) and Reed Sheppard, right, during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors guard Ja'Kobe Walter (14) moves the ball around Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr., left, during second-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Jamison Battle (77) pressures Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green (4) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet (5) moves the ball while under pressure from Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) picks up an offensive foul as he drives to the net past Toronto Raptors guards Gradey Dick (1) and Ja'Kobe Walter, left, during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase keep putting up extraordinary numbers, but the Cincinnati Bengals still need help to reach the playoffs.

Burrow threw three touchdown passes, including one as he was falling to the turf, and the Bengals kept their slim postseason hopes alive with a 24-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

“This one just keeps us in the race,” Burrow said. “It feels good to play in big games. It's exciting to still be in it.”

The Bengals (7-8) have won three straight. They need to win their last two games and get some help to earn a playoff spot.

Burrow finished 23 of 30 for 252 yards and became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for three or more TDs and 250 or more yards in seven straight games, surpassing the record of six set by Tom Brady in New England's undefeated 2007 season.

Chase had six catches for 97 yards and a garbage-time touchdown for Cincinnati to reach 1,510 yards this season and break his own franchise record of 1,455 yards set in 2021.

“It feels good, something I wanted to do,” said Chase, who leads the NFL in receptions (108), receiving yards and TD catches (16). “Me being competitive, I wanted to compete with myself.”

Burrow leads the league with 4,229 yards passing and 39 touchdowns.

With Dorian Thompson-Robinson replacing Jameis Winston at quarterback, Cleveland (3-12) missed some chances in the red zone.

Jerome Ford had a 66-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. But D'Onta Foreman fumbled on first-and-goal and Vonn Bell recovered.

“It's a 14-point swing,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “Not only did it take the life out of them a little bit, getting the stop on the 1-yard line then going 99 (yards) gave us a lot of confidence and set the tone.”

In the third quarter, a holding penalty negated a TD run by Thompson-Robinson, who also had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Jordan Battle.

“Obviously, you turn the ball over in the red zone, especially the first one, you're not going to put yourself in position to get a win on the road,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Not a lack of effort. It's a lack of protecting the ball.”

The Bengals cashed in on Foreman's fumble when Burrow, as he was falling, threw a 2-yard TD pass to Tee Higgins to cap an eight-play, 99-yard drive.

The Bengals' defense, which has struggled for most of the season, has forced nine turnovers in the past two games.

“The guys have done a great job on that side of the ball getting us extra possessions on offense,” Taylor said

Thompson-Robinson passed for 157 yards and two interceptions after being named the starter this week ahead of Winston, who was inactive with a shoulder injury. He had 49 yards rushing and was sacked five times.

Ford rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.

Burrow threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to Chase with 1:44 left when the Bengals only needed to run out the clock.

Cincinnati’s Cade York, a former Browns draft pick, tied a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to make it 17-0.

It matched Evan McPherson's 59-yarder on Sept. 11, 2022. McPherson is on injured reserve with a groin injury.

“There was no ill will,” York said about the Browns. “I really enjoyed my time over there. It was nice to beat them, though.”

Myles Garrett, who said this week the Browns franchise should be focused on winning and not rebuilding, recorded the 100th sack of his career in the second quarter.

“It made my dad proud," Garrett said. "He’s been telling me through my last three weeks. I’m happy to get it done. There is no quitting in my blood.”

Garrett has 12 sacks, joining Lawrence Taylor as the only players with 12 or more in five straight seasons.

Browns: Two key starters returned in TE David Njoku and CB Martin Emerson Jr.

Bengals: RT Amarius Mims left the game with a left ankle injury and didn't return. LT Orlando Brown Jr. was inactive with an injured fibula.

Browns: Host Miami next Sunday.

Bengals: Host Denver on Saturday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) leaves the field after an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. The Bengals won 24-6. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrates with Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton (81) after making a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) makes a reception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) after making a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates after making a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cleveland Browns fumble the ball near the 1-yard line as Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) recovers the fumble during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) warms up before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) celebrates with wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) after making a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) celebrates with teammates after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) makes a touchdown catch during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) celebrates with teammates after an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) throws for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)