TORONTO -- DeMar DeRozan had clearly been itching for the start of the regular season. Like so many other veterans, he had to grind his way through exhibition games in training camp, gradually moving from 11 points in his first preseason game, to 15, to 20 and finally to 34 in the final warm-up game last week.His patience was rewarded Wednesday night as the Olympic gold medalist had 40 points in the Toronto Raptors 109-91 season-opening victory over the Detroit Pistons, his third career 40-point outing and just two off his career high.Preseason (stunk), he said. But youve got to do it and now the real deal is here and youre just trying to catch a rhythm.DeRozan made a career-high 17 field goals on 27 shots and was a perfect 6 for 6 from the free throw line, while Jonas Valanciunas was 10 for 15 from the field to go along with 11 rebounds. Valanciunas previous career high was 31, also against the Pistons, on Jan. 12, 2015.According to Elias Sports Bureau, the duo became the first teammates in NBA history with a 40-point game and a 30-point game in a season opener. DeRozan also broke Vince Carters opening-night franchise record of 39 points, set against the-then New Jersey Nets in 2003.I never keep track, DeRozan said of his record-breaking exploits. Somebody always informs me after the game.Valanciunas also played down his accomplishment, despite registering his second career 30-point game, as the Raptors led from the 5:13 mark of the first quarter and never looked back.Eighty-one games to go, he said. We should not get too excited; this is just the start.Tobias Harris had 22 points and Marcus Morris had 17 points and nine rebounds for the Pistons, who lost for the eighth time in their last 11 games against Toronto.Coach Stan Van Gundy was particularly irked with his teams defensive play in losing their season opener for the fifth time in seven years, especially the fact that Detroit was outrebounded 51-40. It didnt help that center Andre Drummond left the court after getting elbowed in the jaw by Valanciunas early in the first quarter, though he later returned.The rebounding was a major concern, he said. (Giving up) 54 points in the paint was a major concern and 29 free throw attempts, so that just means the team took it right at you.TIP-INSPistons: Henry Ellenson, Detroits first-round draft pick last June (18th overall) went scoreless in 2:10 of play, while second-round selection Michael Gbinije (49th overall), had two points in 2:10.Raptors: C Lucas Nogueira (ankle) sat out. . DeRozan started his franchise-record eighth straight season opener, breaking a tie with Carter. . First-round draft pick Jakob Poeltl became the first Austrian to play in the NBA. He finished with two points in 12:47 of court time. . Oct. 26 is the earliest date that Toronto has ever had a home opener. . The Raptors are 13-9 on opening night and have won four straight.HE SAID ITIts one thing to watch somebody on TV and see what he does every single night and actually being there and seeing how effortless it was. It was amazing, he was just getting to his spots, shooting over people and its like, `How does he do that?Rookie Pascal Siakam, drafted 27th overall in June, on the play of DeRozan. Siakam became the first Toronto rookie to start a season opener since Valanciunas in 2012, and rose to the occasion, hauling in nine rebounds to go along with four points in 21 minutes.UNITED NATIONSWith the draft-day additions of Poeltl (Austria) and Siakam (Cameroon), Torontos roster has players representing five countries other than the United States. Valanciunas (Lithuania), Cory Joseph (Canada), Nogueira and Bruno Caboclo (Brazil) round out the group. In their 21 seasons, the Raptors have had players representing 16 countries.ANOTHER DIMENSIONEvery fan at the Air Canada Centre was given a pair of 3D glasses. As the Raptors opened their season some of the players were jumping out of the Jumbotron to highlight some of the more spectacular plays from last season.UP NEXTPistons: Host Orlando on Friday in their home opener. Van Gundy is 6-1 against his former team since taking charge in Detroit.Raptors: Host Cleveland on Friday in an early season rematch of last years Eastern Conference Finals, won by the Cavaliers in six games. NFL Jerseys From China . Rousey will put her perfect 8-0 record and hardware on the line against another undefeated fighter, 7-0 Sara McMann in the main event of UFC 170, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas Nevada on February 22nd. Cheap Jersey Website . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. https://www.cheapjerseysreview.com/ . "Trying to breathe," he said with a grin. Bernier stopped 42 of 43 shots on Monday night, including all 22 in a hectic middle frame, his heroic performance propelling the Leafs toward an undue point in their final game before the Christmas break. Where To Buy Cheap Jerseys . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. CINCINNATI -- Adrian Gonzalez got the most pleasure out of watching his teammates circle the bases. Nobody made as many trips as he did.Gonzalez hit three of the Dodgers seven homers -- driving in a career-high eight runs -- and rookie Corey Seager had a noteworthy homer as well on Monday, leading Los Angeles to an 18-9 victory and a split of its four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds.The NL West leaders enjoyed their biggest home run splurge in 10 years. Theyve won 10 of their last 12 games against Cincinnati.Four of Gonzalezs teammates also homered in the Dodgers biggest power performance since they hit seven during an 11-10 win over San Diego on Sept. 18, 2006.That was fun, he said.Gonzalez started it with a three-run shot in the first inning off Homer Bailey (2-2), who had his worst showing since returning from Tommy John surgery. Gonzalez also had a solo shot in the fifth, when the Dodgers connected four times overall.His three-run shot in the seventh tied his career high for homers. He drove in another run with a groundout as the Dodgers scored 18 runs for the first time in 10 years.The first baseman attributed it to Great American Ball Parks dimensions.Its tiny and the ball flies, Gonzalez said. Right field is short. I hit two fly balls that went out. I could have been 1 for 6 with a homer.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts played left field for the Padres in that game 10 years ago when Los Angeles also hit seven.It feels much better from this side, Roberts said. Yeah, I saw `em. I remember.The Dodgers needed the big game offensively. Left-hander Scott Kazmir lasted a season-low 2 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and four runs. Joey Votto singled home a run off reliever Jesse Chavez (1-0), one of his four RBI.Kazmir said hes been bothered lately by a stiff right side of his neck. He doesnt want to go on the disabled list. Hell be examined in Los Angeles.Im pretty stubborn, Kazmir said. I can feel like this and get it done. But when youre putting up numbers like that, its tough to swallow.There were homer notes galore:- Seagers two-run shot gave him 22 homers, trying Glenn Wrights club record for a shortstop from 1930. He tied his career high with four hits and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.- The seven hhomers allowed by Reds pitchers tied the club record.dddddddddddd- Andrew Toles and Rob Segedin hit their first career homers back-to-back in the fifth, becoming the first Dodger duo to accomplish that one.- The last time the Dodgers hit four homers in an inning was Sept. 28, 2006, against San Diego.Bailey gave up a season-high six runs and nine hits, leaving after 59 pitches. Chase Utley singled on Baileys first pitch of the game, and Seager singled on the second pitch. Gonzalez homered on the first pitch, leaving him 11 for 25 career against the right-hander with six homers. The homer extended his hitting streak to a season-high 15 games.Were seeing what we expected to see, Reds manager Bryan Price said of Bailey, who has made five starts. Some days, hes electric and sharp. Some days, theres fatigue and achiness and youre not going to have your grade-A stuff.Bud Norris, who started on Friday and lasted 3 2/3 innings, pitched the eighth to help LAs depleted bullpen. He threw 18 pitches, retired two batters, gave up two hits and a walk, and felt some tightness in his back. Reds outfielder Tyler Holt pitched the ninth and retired the three batters he faced.STATSIt was Gonzalezs 21st career multi-homer game. Hes the third Dodger to hit three in a game this season, joining Yasmani Grandal and Seager. ... It was the Dodgers biggest game offensively since a 19-11 win at Colorado in 2006. ... The Reds also gave up seven homers at Colorado on May 31.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: RF Josh Reddick was scratched from the lineup because of a jammed middle finger on his right hand that bothered his throwing. He pinch hit and flied out.Reds: SS Zack Cozart missed a fifth straight game with a sore left Achilles tendon. Price said hell miss at least one more game.UP NEXTDodgers: Ken Maeda (12-7) opens a home series against the Giants. He has won his last four decisions -- in five starts -- with a 3.45 ERA.Reds: Dan Straily (9-6) starts the opener of a two-game series against Texas at Great American Ball Park. Hes 3-3 career against the Rangers in 10 games.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay ' ' '