PHILADELPHIA -- Toronto Raptors coach Dwane Casey was satisfied with Wednesday night's result -- a 123-114 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers -- but not the ending.

The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors, sparked by DeMar DeRozan's 31 points, took a 19-point lead over the Eastern Conference's worst team early in the fourth quarter. The Sixers, however, whittled the gap to five on two occasions in the final minute.

Four free throws by reserve Terrence Ross and two by Kyle Lowry allowed Toronto to secure its fourth straight victory and 10th in 11 games.

"It's a great example (of) the game's never over 'til it's over," Casey said. "We're not good enough to let up, to relax. Every team in this league can come back and get you. That's what is upsetting about a pretty good-going game until the fourth quarter. ... We took our foot off the gas pedal and you can't do that in this league."

Even as his team struggled, Casey did not feel compelled to reinsert DeRozan, who played only the first three quarters. DeRozan, the NBA's fifth-leading scorer, was 11 of 18 from the floor and 9 of 11 at the foul line. He scored 23 of his points during a blistering 15-minute stretch beginning late in the second quarter.

"Just taking what they gave me," he said. "Getting to my spots and just trying to be aggressive, get to the free throw line."

DeRozan, who is in his eighth season, has always been an explosive scorer, but this year he is averaging 28 points per game, which if maintained would be a career high.

"I just try to be better every single year," he said. "That's just my mindset."

Lowry added 20 points, and Jonas Valanciunas finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors. Cory Joseph added 13 points off the bench and matched Lowry's team-high total of seven assists.

Ross also had 13 points for Toronto (18-7).

Robert Covington finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds, both season highs, to lead Philadelphia (6-19). The Sixers, who dropped their seventh consecutive home game, saw a two-game winning streak end.

Jahlil Okafor notched 17 points for Philadelphia, and Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez had 16 apiece.

Rookie center Joel Embiid, who started alongside Okafor for the first time, was limited to a season-low nine.

"I didn't trust the process tonight," said Embiid, adding that he was too content to stand on the perimeter and that he wasn’t active enough on defense.

The Sixers led by as many as five early in the game and were up 43-39 with 4:45 left in the second quarter. DeRozan then contributed nine points, all in the last 3:16, as the Raptors closed the half with a 21-11 rush to go into the break ahead 60-54.

DeRozan generated 14 more points in the third quarter when the Raptors outscored the Sixers 32-20 to extend their lead to 92-74.

Lowry's 3-pointer with 9:27 left in the game gave Toronto its biggest lead at 99-80.

"I was ready to blow up the team on the floor and start subbing," Sixers coach Brett Brown said.

Instead, the Sixers rallied.

"It felt like we had nothing to lose," Brown said. "Our crowd started getting going, and our guys responded."

DeRozan scored 17 points in the first half and Lowry contributed 12. Covington and Henderson had 10 each to pace Philadelphia.

NOTES: Sixers coach Brett Brown said the decision to start C/F Joel Embiid and C/F Jahlil Okafor together was predicated in part by matchups, as Toronto starts C Jonas Valanciunas and F Pascal Siakam. Moreover, Brown said, "It's my job to grow our program, grow our guys and see what we actually have." Okafor made 6-of-9 shots, while Embiid was 3-for-6. “There’s a lot for us to figure out,” Okafor said, “but overall it was a positive thing, us playing together.” ... Raptors coach Dwane Casey on G Kyle Lowry: "Kyle's Kyle. He's a pain in the butt sometimes, as everyone here knows. But I tell you what, he's our pain in the butt, and we love him." ... Philadelphia C/F Nerlens Noel, who missed the first 23 games after knee surgery in late October, sat out after spraining his left ankle Sunday against Detroit. ... The Raptors had 26 second-chance points, the Sixers 14.