|
 Bosh hit 13 of 16 free throws and added eight rebounds and five assists for the Raptors, who won for the third time in four games to pull a game ahead of idle Philadelphia in the playoff race. Both teams are trying to avoid a matchup with powerful Detroit in the first round.
Bosh's inside presence prevented the Raptors from suffering another letdown against the Bobcats, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Bosh missed Toronto's last trip to Charlotte on March 2, and the Bobcats held a 32-0 edge on second-chance points in a 22-point win.
This time the Raptors made 17 straight shots in the first quarter, fell behind by 10 in the second, then pulled away in the second half against the Bobcats, who were playing only their second home game in more than three weeks.
Anthony Parker added 20 points and T.J. Ford added 15, including the clinching free throw with 1.9 seconds left for the Raptors, who bounced back from a home loss to New Orleans on Sunday.
Jason Richardson scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half, Gerald Wallace scored 20 points and Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats, whose faint playoff hopes took a hit.
Richardson's 3-pointer with 2.7 seconds left cut Toronto's lead to 103-100. Ford was fouled, and made the second of two free throws, ending a strange game with large momentum shifts.
The Raptors, who were dominated at home Sunday by New Orleans, were nearly perfect early. After starting 1-of-5 from the field, Toronto made 17 consecutive shots over the final 9 minutes of the first quarter
Bosh, with 17 points, did most of the damage inside against Charlotte's soft interior defense as the Raptors built a 39-32.
[to top of second column]
 |
Then the Raptors suddenly went cold, missing their first five shots of the second quarter and it was Charlotte's turn to beat Toronto in transition. The Bobcats scored 12 consecutive points and led by as many as 10 before settling for a 63-58 halftime lead.
The Raptors reinserted their will in the third quarter, building a 79-71 lead on Parker's 3-pointers with 1:42 left.
Notes: Wallace, who has sustained four concussions in four seasons, had no problems after taking a forearm to the throat and hitting his head on teammate Emeka Okafor's knee during Saturday's game. "He's going to get bumped, he's going to get knocked," coach Sam Vincent said. "It's just how he plays." ... F Jamario Moon was back in Toronto's starting lineup after Jason Kapono went scoreless in his place Sunday. Moon scored 15 points and Kapono never got in the game.
[Associated Press; By MIKE CRANSTON]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
|
