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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.Wholesale Yeezy Authentic . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. Fake Yeezy . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday. https://www.wholesaleyeezyauthentic.com/ . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Wholesale Yeezy . The Canadian squad, skipped by Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, got on the board first with two in the second end, and followed that with two more apiece in the fourth and sixth ends. Yeezy Shoes . PETERSBURG, Fla.No one climbed Mt. Midoriyama for $1 million in Season 8 of American Ninja Warrior, which was expected but disappointing nonetheless. Veteran Drew Drechsel and wunderkind Daniel Gil were the only two competitors to survive the brutal test of Stage 2 in the season finale, which aired Monday. Their Stage 3 quests, however, came up short, and both of them ended up in the water.Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero both conquered the four-stage course last season, and Caldiero became the first million-dollar winner in the shows history.?This season was as compelling as it was historic. There were fresh faces and new challenges, but above all else, ANW Season 8 will be known for its ground-breaking accomplishments by women.While Jessie Graffs star shined brightest, all of the ANW women proved their athletic chops this season. Meagan Martin hit a city-qualifying buzzer for the third consecutive season, two women ran in the Los Angeles city finals, four women ran in the Philadelphia city finals, and three women punched their own tickets to Vegas. To top it off, a record 18 women competed in the national finals.I think this season was a game-changer for female competitors, Erica Cook said. Girls have been breaking through in the past few years but falling just short of competing on par with the men.When Kacy Catanzaro became the first woman to finish a qualifying course in Season 6, she opened the door for other firsts and helped the ninja community understand that female competitors should be taken seriously. Her triumph was soon followed by Martin and Michelle Warnky doing the same.Catanzaro went on to become the first woman to complete a city finals course. (Shes still the only one to do so.) Martin bested the Jumping Spider in Vegas, but for a few years, Stage 1 was left unconquered by a woman.That changed with Jessie Graff. The 5-foot-8 powerhouse athlete blazed through Stage 1, becoming the first woman to finish the course and placing fifth overall. No one was happier for her than Warnky, her competitor and friend.I loved seeing her run on Stage 2! I knew she had worked so hard for it, Warnky said.Last year, both were unable to beat what Warnky considered to be the easiest Stage 1 in the shows history. But this year, Graff hit the buzzer on what was arguably thhe hardest Stage 1 in the shows history.dddddddddddd A record-low of 17 competitors finished the course to advance to Stage 2. Her completion, and this season as a whole, prove that women of ANW are capable of challenging the men.I think [this season] has given girls and women out there more confidence and that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible, said Rachael Goldstein, one of the four women to reach the Philadelphia city finals. Women can compete alongside some of the strongest men, and rank near the top.I know that this season has given me more confidence anyways. Before this season, I was unsure of myself and my ability to compete alongside the best ninjas in the country.For many of the women competing in Vegas, Graffs completing Stage 1 was just the beginning. Shes inspired them to chase their own dreams.This is what some of them had to say about Graff:She is truly an incredible athlete and inspiration for all the ninja ladies to get there, too. -- Tiana WebberleyShe isnt just an inspiration to kids and adults training to reach fitness goals, but to the men and women who compete on the show as well. -- Rachael GoldsteinShe has finally let the females see past the mental block weve all had about Stage 1, and now Stage 2 is the next to be conquered. Most of the females who make it to the Vegas rounds tend to all be thinking, I just want to beat Stage 1! and I personally love that the standard has risen and that it will forever change the mentality of the female competitors, plus the viewers at home. -- Cassie CraigJessie is leading the way for what many women are capable of accomplishing in Ninja Warrior. -- Kirsti PrattIn my opinion, she showed everyone that gender doesnt necessarily confine you. If you work hard enough, anything is possible. -- Erica CookWe always knew women have been fully capable of beating Stage 1, but now that Jessie has finally proved that, its set this awesome and inspiring bar for all other female ninjas. -- Allyssa BeirdIt was an amazing season of American Ninja Warrior. Hopefully next year, there will be even more women making history. Perhaps one of them will even beat Stage 2. ' ' '