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Part 2 of 3 Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have acquired six-time NBA All-Star forward-centre Jermaine O'Neal and the draft rights to forward-centre Nathan Jawai, the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard TJ Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and the draft rights to centre Roy Hibbert. Tags: Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference

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Part 3 of 3 Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have acquired six-time NBA All-Star forward-centre Jermaine O'Neal and the draft rights to forward-centre Nathan Jawai, the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard TJ Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and the draft rights to centre Roy Hibbert. Tags: Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference Part of

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Part 1 of 3 Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have acquired six-time NBA All-Star forward-centre Jermaine O'Neal and the draft rights to forward-centre Nathan Jawai, the 41st overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft, from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for guard TJ Ford, centre Rasho Nesterovic, forward Maceo Baston and the draft rights to centre Roy Hibbert. Tags: Jermaine O'neal Toronto Raptors Press Conference Part of

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Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game5 Apr.28/08 Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy saw something different about Dwight Howard heading into the playoffs. The 22-year-old All-Star, usually the team's biggest jokester, suddenly got serious. So did his already-impressive numbers. Howard had 21 points, 21 rebounds and three blocks—his third 20-20 game in the series—and the Magic advanced to second round for the first time in 12 years by beating the Toronto Raptors 102-92 in Game 5 on Monday night. "There was a different demeanor from him," Van Gundy said of his young center. "Dwight is a fun-loving guy and he likes to fool around. There are a lot of times during the year, not bad, but a lot of times during the year where I've got to try to bring him back to being serious when we're preparing. "I did not have to say one word, from the start of preparation for this series all the way through," Van Gundy said. "He's a phenom; he's the best center in the league," said Raptors star Chris Bosh, who was guarded by Howard all game. "He's probably the strongest guy in the league, and he knows how to use his body. It doesn't surprise me at all. I've seen him play this whole series, I've seen him play this season." Bosh, who posted career playoff highs of 39 points and 15 rebounds at Toronto on Saturday, had 16 points and nine rebounds Monday. Howard frustrated him down low into 7-of-19 shooting, and Bosh picked up a third-quarter technical foul after the Magic star muscled past him for a layup. T.J. Ford and Carlos Delfino both scored 14 points for the Raptors, while Jason Kapono had 13 and Jose Calderon 12. Delfino added seven rebounds and Ford had five assists. "We knew in the regular season that every time we played the Orlando Magic that you've got to score, and we just couldn't score," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "We didn't make enough shots." The Magic will play the winner of the Detroit-Philadelphia series, which is tied 2-2, in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Keyon Dooling's free throw after the technical on Bosh put the Magic ahead 73-66 with just under a minute left in the third quarter, and Orlando kept that cushion until midway through the fourth. Delfino hit a jumper and Bosh made two free throws in four trips to the line, plus a hook shot over Howard, to draw the Raptors within 84-82. The Magic, who shot the fourth-best percentage in the NBA from 3-point range this season, struggled again from long range (9-of-32), but made them when it counted. Keith Bogans and Jameer Nelson each hit one and Howard added a layup as the Magic answered with an 8-0 run over 3:13 to open a 92-82 lead, then its largest of the game. "We've depended on the 3 all year. It's going to make us or break us," Bogans said. "Coach just tells us to keep shooting them and don't stop." Nelson scored 19 points for Orlando and Rashard Lewis had 18 points and 13 rebounds. Hedo Turkoglu just missed a triple-double with 12 points, eight rebounds and nine assists, while Maurice Evans scored 12 points and Bogans added 11. Orlando hadn't won a playoff series since 1996, when Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway led the team to the Eastern Conference finals. The Magic played 28 postseason games in the intervening years, winning only eight. Howard grinned broadly, still unable to believe it was true. "It's just an unbelievable feeling," he said. "We did something I feel that hasn't been done here in a while." Orlando looked good early, taking a 10-2 lead on 3-of-5 shooting, but the Raptors guards took over for the rest of the first half. Calderon fueled a 10-4 run with two 3-pointers to close the first quarter up 26-22, and Delfino scored eight straight points in the second quarter. The Magic drew to 44-43 as the Raptors went 2:20 Raptors without scoring—a period in which Lewis had nine points—but Ford scored six straight on two jumpers and two free throws to keep the Magic from regaining the lead before halftime. Toronto's Jamario Moon, who strained his groin in the third quarter Saturday and didn't return, started for the second time in the series. He had six points in the first quarter on two quick 3-pointers but just two more the rest of the way. Notes The NBA announced earlier in the day that Turkoglu was its most improved player. ... Orlando is 4-0 all-time in Game 5s at home. ... Toronto's bench outscored the Magic's in all five games—by a lot. The margin was 39-20 on Monday, and 149-75 through the first four games. ... The Raptors lost their last five games on the road. ... Tiger Woods and Chicago Bulls F Drew Gooden watched from courtside. Tags: Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game5 Apr.28/08

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Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game4 Apr.26/08 Challenged by his coach to show more aggression, Jameer Nelson responded with a furious fourth quarter. Nelson scored 12 of his 19 points in the final period, including 10 straight at one stretch, and the Orlando Magic beat the Toronto Raptors 106-94 on Saturday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. "As a player, sometimes you start to feel it and I started to feel it in the fourth quarter," Nelson said. "I hit a couple of big shots and my teammates started looking for me. When you make shots, your confidence rises." Rashard Lewis added 27 points and 13 rebounds, and Dwight Howard added 19 points, 16 boards and eight blocks for the third-seeded Magic, who host Game 5 of this first-round series Monday night. Chris Bosh set a career playoff-high with 39 points and added 15 rebounds for the Raptors, while T.J. Ford had 12 points and 13 assists. "It's not over yet," Ford said. "It's the first one to four. We got ourselves in a hole and we just have to continue to stay positive." With Orlando down 76-73 after three quarters, Magic coach Stan Van Gundy took Nelson aside and told him to take more shots in the fourth. "(Point guard) is a very difficult job," Van Gundy said. "There's such a balance between trying to get other guys involved and being aggressive in looking for your shot. It's the hardest job in basketball, and he played great in the fourth quarter." Nelson started his run with a pull-up jumper, then followed Jason Kapono's 3-pointer with one of his own, keeping the score tied. Another pull-up jumper and 3-pointer followed, and the Magic never trailed again. "He made a couple of easy shots and then, by that time, I guess the basket looked a little bigger to him," Bosh said. Nelson, who played almost 35 minutes Saturday, had back spasms after Game 3 and had to lie down in the hallway as he walked to the locker room after the game. So how did he cure his sore muscles? "I had Dwight walk on my back," Nelson said, laughing. In truth, ice and pills took care of the injury, which didn't bother Nelson much anyway. "It kind of came and went," he said. "Obviously, when you're making shots it's going to go away." Toronto stayed close until back-to-back 3-pointers by Hedo Turkoglu and Lewis gave the Magic a 100-92 lead with 1:31 remaining. Turkoglu had 18 points and nine rebounds. Keith Bogans scored 12 points for Orlando. "It seems like any time they penetrate our defense, something good happens for them," Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. "We've got to do a better job of stopping their dribble penetration." Lewis went 10-for-19 from the field. The Magic made four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and finished 11-for-29 from beyond the arc. "He stepped up big today," Van Gundy said. "It's not just scoring, that was his best rebounding game, maybe of the year." Kapono and Anthony Parker each scored 12 for the Raptors, who were just 2-for-15 from 3-point range. Bosh finished 16-for-26. "In the second half, we shot the 3 well, and that's big for us," Van Gundy said. "Obviously, it's a big thing for them, too, and they didn't shoot it well today." Orlando used big first quarters to win Games 1 and 2, while Toronto fed off the energy of its home crowd to build a big lead in the opening half of its Game 3 win. This time, however, neither team was able to pull away early. Howard continued to dominate inside, posting 12 points and seven rebounds in the first as Orlando built a 29-21 lead. A three-point play by Jamario Moon and a breakaway dunk by Bosh helped Toronto trim the gap to 31-26 after 12 minutes. Howard didn't score again before the half, but Bosh followed a 10-point first with an 11-point second and the Raptors went 11-for-20 from the field, outscoring Orlando 27-17 to open a 53-48 edge at intermission. Moon strained his groin when he slipped while trying to catch a fast-break pass from Ford in the third. Moon stayed in the game, clutching the area with his hand until the Magic called timeout and he was replaced by Jason Kapono. After taking him to the locker room for examination, the training staff declared Moon fit to return, but he did not play again. ^Notes: Orlando got its first playoff road win since April 20, 2003, at Detroit. ... Howard finished 1-for-6 from the free throw line and has gone 9-for-23 since a 9-for-11 showing in Game 1. ... Actress Mila Kunis attended the game. Tags: Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game4 Apr.26/08

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Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game3 Apr.24/08 With a quick start and quality point guard play, the Toronto Raptors turned the tables on the Orlando Magic. T.J. Ford scored 21 points, Jose Calderon had 18 points and 13 assists, and the Raptors beat the Magic 108-94 on Thursday night, cutting Orlando's lead to 2-1 in their first-round playoff series. "That was the most important game of the season so far and we played like it," Chris Bosh said. "We stepped up to the challenge." Ford shot 2-for-17 in the first two games of the series, but looked confident and comfortable in this one, splitting time almost equally with Calderon. "The way those guys played reminded me of just how good those two can be when they're both on their game," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. Dwight Howard had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Magic, while Hedo Turkoglu added 26 points and Rashard Lewis scored 19. "Right from the get-go, the Raptors were outstanding," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "Their point guard play was phenomenal and probably the key to the game for them." Jamario Moon had 11 points and 10 rebounds in his return to the starting lineup for Toronto, while Bosh and Jason Kapono each scored 15 points and Anthony Parker 10. The Raptors finished 12-for-34 from 3-point range and set playoff highs for points in a game and a half (61). Game 4 is Saturday afternoon in Toronto. "We're halfway to our goal, which is to get back to 2-2," Ford said. "We have to take care of business again on Saturday." Keith Bogans scored 12 for the Magic, who trailed by as many as 23. Orlando guard Jameer Nelson collapsed with back spasms as he was walking back the locker room after the game and was seen writhing on the floor in pain. "He got hit in the back defending a pick-and-roll," Van Gundy said. "He kept playing, but as he walked off the court, he got a back spasm and a bad one." Van Gundy said Nelson was up and walking again minutes after the incident. Hampered by foul trouble, Nelson went 2-for-8 and scored six points, all in the fourth quarter. Toronto was unable to overcome double-digit deficits in the first quarter of Games 1 and 2, and was determined to start better up north. With Moon back in the starting lineup in place of Rasho Nesterovic, the Raptors had the energy they needed. Down 6-2 early, Toronto responded with a 16-3 run over the next four minutes. Moon capped it with a breakaway dunk, forcing Orlando to call a timeout trailing 18-9. "Just like I've been doing all season, I wanted to come out and be aggressive and try to bring energy to my teammates," Moon said. "I wanted to come out and get on the glass and get my hands on any ball that I could and make it tough on the guy I was guarding." With his teammates struggling, Howard's inside dominance kept Orlando close. He had 13 points and five rebounds in the opening frame, but Toronto led 28-20 after 12 minutes. Besides Howard, the Magic shot 3-for-15 in the opening quarter. The Raptors pulled further away in the second, holding Howard to just two points and finishing the half with a flurry sparked by Ford. "He's a very, very good player and he played like it today," Bosh said of Ford. The diminutive guard was on the court for just 3 1/2 minutes in the second but made the most of them, scoring 11 points. Ford drained jumpers on three straight trips and Bargnani added a 3-pointer as the Raptors reeled off a 9-0 run, pushing their lead to 56-35. Bosh didn't make his first field goal until a breakaway dunk with 12 seconds left in the first half, putting Toronto up 61-38. Carlos Arroyo replied with a layup to make it 61-40 at the break. "The game was pretty well decided at halftime," Van Gundy said. Lewis opened the third with back-to-back 3-pointers and had 12 points in the quarter as Orlando outscored Toronto 29-19, cutting the gap to 80-69 heading into the fourth. Nelson picked up his fourth foul less than two minutes into the third and headed to the bench. Joining him there later was Howard, who was whistled for three fouls in the third, two of them offensive, and was replaced by Marcin Gortat with 1:39 remaining. Notes The Magic started 0-for-7 from beyond the 3-point line. Keith Bogans snapped the skid with a 3 with 2:45 left in the first quarter. ... Howard, who was 14-for-20 from the free throw line in the first two games of the series, went 3-for-8 Thursday. ... Toronto outrebounded Orlando 42-34. ... Turkoglu's 26 points were a career playoff high. Tags: Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game3 Apr.24/08

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Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game2 Apr.22/08 Two playoff games, two 20-point, 20-rebound outings for Dwight Howard. This time there was no question he was the difference maker. Orlando's three-point touch evaporated, but Howard's 29 points and 20 rebounds powered the Magic past the Toronto Raptors, 104-103, Tuesday night for a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Howard was the first player in nearly 40 years to record consecutive playoff games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. The last was the San Francisco Warriors' Nate Thurmond in the 1968-69 playoffs, a player the 22-year-old Magic star sheepishly admitted he'd never heard of. "It was tough to come back and try to play the same way I played the first game," said Howard, who had 25 points and 22 rebounds on Sunday. "But one of the things (coach Stan Van Gundy) has put in my head, and (Magic assistant Patrick Ewing), is just trying to play as dominant as I could on both ends of the floor. Since the last game, the only thing on my mind, when I go to sleep, when I wake up, at the gym with the guys, is to dominate." Chris Bosh had 29 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto, but missed a 19-footer with 1.9 seconds left that could have won the game. Jason Kapono scored 20 points, Jose Calderon had 18 and Carlos Delfino added 16 for the Raptors. "I knew I was going to have space," Bosh said of the last shot. "The time before I drove the basket and I didn't get a call. I didn't want to put it in the referee's hands. I wanted to get a clean look I felt like I did a decent job. I got a decent look and just missed the shot." Jameer Nelson and Rashard Lewis each scored 18 for Orlando. Hedo Turkoglu made the go-ahead layup and finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Orlando won despite shooting 9-of-31 from three-point range including a combined 0-of-13 for Turkoglu and Lewis. The Raptors made 11 of 29 threes, four by Kapono. Toronto, which trailed most of the game, took a 101-100 lead with 1:04 left on three consecutive three-pointers, one from Delfino and two by Calderon, plus a free throw by Delfino. But Turkoglu drove the lane for an acrobatic layup to put Orlando back on top, 102-101, then sank two free throws to push the lead to three points. Delfino made another layup to make it 104-103 with 9.6 seconds left, and the Raptors immediately got the ball back after Orlando's Keyon Dooling was called for an offensive foul on the inbounds pass. Toronto isolated Bosh for the last shot, but it was no good. For the second straight game, Toronto got buried in a double-digit deficit in the opening minutes this time from inside. Though this one ended close, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell promised a lineup change for Game 3 on Thursday in Toronto. He had already changed it for the series by starting seven-foot Andrea Bargnani at small forward instead of rookie Jamario Moon. "For whatever reason, we're falling behind," Mitchell said. "We just can't do that. It's a different basketball game if the score is tied or if we're down two or three at the end of the first quarter." The game was much more physical than Sunday's series opener. Turkoglu was called for a flagrant foul in the second quarter defending Bosh. The Raptors star had just stolen a pass and had a clear shot at the basket when Turkoglu caught up with him, pushing Bosh hard to the ground. Howard picked up a technical in the third quarter jawing with Delfino after the making a layup, plus the foul on the guard in the third quarter. The Raptors took their first lead of the series in the third quarter, using a 7-0 run to go ahead 64-59. Orlando was 0-for-5 to start the quarter, but regained an 81-71 lead after Nelson's two three-pointers and Howard's bucket that preceded his technical. Orlando was only 1-of-5 on 3-pointers in the first quarter after a 9-of-11 performance in Game 1, but opened a 26-8 lead on Nelson's slash to the bucket 8:04 into the game. The Magic had five dunks in the first six minutes including three in a row on fast breaks off a steal (two by Turkoglu and one from Lewis). "We definitely need to have a better start," Bosh said. "I think we're too cross-matched there are too many mismatches early in the game, which triggers that break." The Raptors, who tied a franchise playoff low with eight turnovers in Game 1, had that many in the first 13 minutes. But they closed the gap in the second quarter with a 15-5 run over 3:05. Kapono hit two threes in the span and scored 13 in the quarter. Bosh, guarded by Magic reserve centre Adonal Foyle and Howard instead of Lewis, as in Game 1, also had 13 in the period on 4-of-6 shooting. The Raptors finally tied it at 55 with Calderon's layup a minute before the half, then trailed 59-57 at halftime. Van Gundy said the game was a good taste of the playoffs for his young stars, but he's not comfortable just being up 2-0. Tags: Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game2 Apr.22/08

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Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game1 Apr.20/08 Dwight Howard had 25 points and 22 rebounds, and Jameer Nelson scored 24 points, and the Orlando Magic defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-100 Sunday in the opener of their first-round series. Howard scored six straight points in a 10-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed Orlando's first playoff win since 2003. He also blocked five shots and made 9-of-11 free throws. Anthony Parker had 24 points and eight rebounds for Toronto, Chris Bosh scored 21 and Rasho Nesterovic had 16 points and eight rebounds. Jason Kapono scored 18 off the bench. The Raptors, who trailed by 20 points after the first quarter, drew within five with 10:24 left in the fourth on two quick three-pointers by Kapono and a Parker jumper. But Toronto went scoreless for the next 3:16 as Orlando pulled away. The Magic held Bosh mostly in check. Smothered by Rashard Lewis inside the paint and out, the all-star power forward started 1-of-6 from the field and scored 13 of his 21 points from the free throw line (13-of-13). Bosh picked up four fouls in the third quarter _ two of them within 20 seconds of one another during tussles with Howard _ and played limited minutes in the fourth. All five Orlando starters scored in double figures. Hedo Turkoglu scored 21, Maurice Evans had 14 and Lewis added 13. Reserve Keyon Dooling scored 10, and Nelson had seven assists. Orlando looked unbeatable at the start, hitting its first seven shots and making 9-of-11 three-pointers in the first quarter. Evans scored 11 in the period and Lewis had 10 as Orlando opened a 43-23 lead. The 43 points were third highest in a first quarter for the playoffs, and Orlando's nine three-pointers tied Boston's record for most in a playoff quarter. Howard blocked three shots in the period and altered several others. Orlando led by as many as 24 in the first half before Toronto recovered to close the second quarter with a 14-3 run to draw to 60-47 at halftime. Nesterovic scored four in the span and Kapono had eight points _ including two three-pointers _ as the Magic went scoreless in the quarter's last four minutes. The Magic shot 53 per cent in the game, including 13-of-29 from three-point range, compared with 38 per cent and 9-of-20 for Toronto. Notes: Howard had an NBA-leading 69 double-doubles during the regular season, including eight games with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. ... Game 2 is Tuesday. ... The Magic turned the arena white and blue by giving fans T-shirts. It was the first time Orlando hosted a playoff series opener since 1999. ... Masters champion Trevor Immelman watched from courtside. Tags: Raptors vs Magic Playoff Round1 Game1 Apr.20/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls Apr.16/08 The Toronto Raptors will be in good shape if T.J. Ford shoots this way in the playoffs. While Ford finished with 18 points in 18 minutes, Tyrus Thomas scored a season-high 26 to lead Chicago to a 107-97 victory over Toronto on Wednesday night in what might have been interim coach Jim Boylan's last game with the Bulls. With the third seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round playoff matchup with Orlando locked up, the Raptors used their starters sparingly. Ford made the most of his time, hitting 7 of 9 shots and 6 of 8 while scoring 16 in the first quarter. Chris Bosh finished with eight points in 15 minutes Andrea Bargnani came off the bench and scored 13, while Kris Humphries added 14 points for the Raptors (41-41). Toronto kept all but one of its starters Jamario Moon on the bench the second quarter, but all five were back when the third quarter began. They were on the sideline late in the period when Chicago rallied from six down to grab a 76-75 lead, and the Bulls pulled away from Toronto's reserves in the fourth. While Thomas finished one shy of his career scoring high, rookie Aaron Gray set career-highs with 19 points and 22 rebounds. But Chicago's core players Luol Deng, Kirk Hinrich and Ben Gordon did little as a woeful season came to a merciful end. Now, the makeover starts. The Bulls' first move could be dismissing Boylan, who's scheduled to meet with general manager John Paxson on Thursday. He went 24-32 after taking over for the fired Scott Skiles in late December, and Chicago finished 33-49 following three straight playoff appearances. ``I'm here as the Chicago Bulls' coach,'' Boylan, an assistant under Skiles, said before the game. ``I've had a wonderful time doing it. That's what I do. Hopefully, I'll continue on in this role and just go from there.'' The Raptors won 47 games last year and finished third in the Eastern Conference before losing to New Jersey, and they're not exactly sailing into the post-season, with just nine wins over the last 26 games. Even so, their fans have reason to be optimistic. Bosh and Orlando's Dwight Howard cancelled each other out, statistically, when they met. Toronto could have an edge in the backcourt, if Ford and Jose Calderon play well, but can the Raptors contain the Magic's perimeter shooters? They have a few days to address that. The Bulls are expected to tackle one issue on Thursday, and Boylan wasn't ready to throw in the towel on his tenure even though Chicago wrapped up its worst season since 2003-04. Skiles took over 16 games into that season, and the Bulls finished with 59 losses before making the playoffs the next three years. They reached the second round last year and expected to contend in the Eastern Conference. Instead, they came apart. If the meeting with Paxson is a last chance to sell himself, Boylan didn't see it that way. ``I've been auditioning for this job the last three-and-a-half months or so,'' he said. ``John and I have had several conversations over the last several weeks.'' Notes: Calderon buried a 41-footer at the end of the first quarter, extending Toronto's lead to 33-27. ... Gray started at centre for Joakim Noah, who was late returning from New York after the death of a relative. ... Gray was glad to see the NBA suspend Milwaukee's Royal Ivey for three regular-season games for punching him in the groin on Monday. ``It was nice to see, because (Paxson) was calling,'' Gray said. ``It's obvious I had support from the organization and the NBA.'' Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Chicago Bulls Apr.16/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat Apr.14/08 When the Cleveland Cavaliers edged Philadelphia on Monday night, a cheer went up behind the closed doors of the Toronto Raptors locker-room. The Raptors were a happy bunch, guaranteed the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference and headed to Orlando for the first round of the playoffs. ``We didn't want to go down, that's what it was about,'' Chris Bosh said. ``It takes a lot of pressure off Wednesday's (final regular-season) game. Going in knowing we already have the sixth spot is good.'' [ ] Rasho Nesterovic had 20 points and seven rebounds to top Toronto in a 91-75 victory over the Miami Heat on Monday. Playing for position in the penultimate game of the regular season, the Raptors were hoping to finish sixth and avoid facing the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs. They did their part by beating the Heat, then their fate rested with Philly, whose dramatic 91-90 loss to the Cavs minutes later sealed the deal. ``We can focus and prepare for a team now,'' Bosh said of the opening round, expected to begin Sunday in Orlando. Bosh added 15 points for the Raptors (41-40), who swept their season series against the struggling Heat for the first time in the Raptors' 13-year history. Anthony Parker chipped in with 13 points, while T.J. Ford and Jason Kapono had 11 apiece, and Jose Calderon added 11 assists. Daequan Cook topped the Heat (14-67) with 22 points. For a team looking to gain some steam heading into the playoffs though - the Raptors had lost 16 of their previous 24 games before Monday - this game wasn't much help. The Heat led for a good chunk of the first half, and it wasn't until the third quarter that the Raptors managed to put any distance on their visitors. Ford had nine points in the quarter and the Raptors outscored the Heat 27-17 to take a 70-64 lead into the fourth. ``Well, both teams played last night and (Miami) made shots,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said on the lethargic start. It was all Raptors all the way to the final buzzer, as the Raptors held the Heat to just 11 points the fourth, and stretched their lead to 18 points on a basket by Bosh with 2:24 left. The players gathered at centre court to salute the crowd after the final buzzer. The Raptors, who wrap up the regular season at Chicago on Wednesday, were hoping to get Orlando as a first-round opponent. Toronto is 1-2 against the Magic this season, Bosh has had some big games against Magic all-star Dwight Howard, and neither team has much in the way of playoff experience. ``Dwight played in the playoffs for the first time last year just like me,'' Bosh said. ``Everybody is pretty fresh, there's not that playoff savvy veteran with the exception of Rasho. This whole series is a lot of young guys playing and trying to get some experience.'' Expect some hard-fought battles between Bosh and Howard. Bosh is averaging 22.7 points and 8.8 rebounds a night while Howard is scoring 20.9 points and 14.3 boards. ``It's going to be a lot of fun, Dwight's a good friend of mine, but he's also one of the best competitors that I have in this league,'' Bosh said. ``We have to get a gameplan ready for him.'' Bosh, who called out the crowd last week for being too quiet, posting a plea on YouTube for fans to get behind the team, addressed the fans before Monday's game, saying, ``we need your support for the playoffs, so keep cheering.'' The woeful Heat have lost 21 of their last 24 games, and with a game to go are guaranteed to at least match the worst single-season record in franchise history, set by the 1988-89 expansion team that went 15-67. ``We have six or eight guys out and that is no way to compete for a race,'' said Miami's Ricky Davis. ``It is just good to get it over with. You just keep coming to work everyday until (the season) is over.'' Heat forward and Montreal native Joel Anthony finished with four rebounds. The Heat raced out to a 10-4 lead in an ugly opening quarter for both teams. The Raptors led several times but never by more than two points, and the Heat took a 28-25 lead into the second quarter. Miami led for all of the second, and a jump shot by Cook put the visitors up by seven points. A three by Parker cut the Heat's lead to 47-43 at halftime. A basket by Stephane Lasme put the Heat up by eight points early in the third before the Raptors finally found their game, outscoring the Heat 27-13 to the end of the quarter to take a six-point lead into the fourth. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Miami Heat Apr.14/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Apr.13/08 The Detroit Pistons knew they were going to have a talented young bench this season. Now, with the playoffs fast approaching, they are starting to understand just how good the group has become. Sunday, facing a Toronto team trying to lock up the Eastern Conference's sixth seed, the Pistons pulled away down the stretch to win 91-84 even though all five starters were resting comfortably on the bench. ``Our bench was great again,'' coach Flip Saunders said. ``Not just offensively, but with the energy they bring defensively. They get how we want to play against teams.'' Detroit finished the game with its ``Zoo Squad'' Jarvis Hayes, Amir Johnson, Jason Maxiell and rookies Arron Afflalo and Rodney Stuckey. The group averages just 22.8 years of age, but the youngsters have proven their worth in back-to-back wins over Washington and Toronto. ``They would definitely be a playoff team,'' veteran Chauncey Billups said. ``Look what they are doing with 20-something minutes a night, and imagine what they could do with 34 or 35. They've beaten playoff teams the last two games teams that are playing hard and have their starters in late.'' Billups isn't alone in his opinion. ``There aren't many teams that can bring in a group like that,'' said Chris Bosh, who had 30 points for the Raptors. ``Those five guys could start for a lot of teams in this league.'' The loss drops Toronto (40-40) into a tie with Philadelphia for the Eastern Conference's sixth seed with two games left, although the Raptors have the tiebreaker. The sixth seed will play Orlando in the first round, while the seventh seed faces Detroit. ``We've been struggling for a while now that's no secret and tonight we had to go up against one of the best teams in the league,'' Rasho Nesterovic said after Toronto dropped to 8-16 in its last 24 games. ``Whoever we play in the first round, we're going to have to change our mentality if we want to have a chance.'' The score was tied at 65 early in the fourth when the Pistons turned the game over to the kids. Stuckey and Maxiell combined for 18 points in the period, and Detroit outshot Toronto 60 per cent to 42 per cent. ``I'm just attacking, and I feel that nobody can stop my drive,'' Stuckey said. ``I love contact, so I'm going at the big guys, no matter who it is. It's all about being aggressive.'' Stuckey led the Pistons with 18 points, while Maxiell and Billups added 14 each. Bosh had his 30 and Nesterovic added 18, but T.J. Ford (10) was the only other player to reach double figures. ``C.B. was great and Rasho was solid, but we didn't get much from the rest of the team,'' Toronto coach Sam Mitchell said. ``They are just a great defensive team they took away a lot of the things that we wanted to do.'' Detroit used all 12 players before halftime, but still took a 50-45 advantage into the break. The Pistons outrebounded Toronto 23-13 in the half, including a 7-2 edge on the offensive glass. Notes: None of the Detroit starters played more than 25 minutes, and none were on the floor in the final 11 minutes. All 12 Pistons played at least 10 minutes. ... The Pistons finished with 26 assists and only 11 turnovers, while the Raptors barely broke even, getting 14 assists against 13 turnovers. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Apr.13/08

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Toronto Raptors vs New Jersey Nets Apr.11/08 Carlos Delfino had 24 points to lead the Toronto Raptors 113-85 over New Jersey on Friday, officially knocking the Nets out of post-season contention. Chris Bosh added 21 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors (40-39), who nabbed the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference with the win, the team's second in a row. [ ] T.J. Ford and Andrea Bargnani added 14 points apiece, while Jose Calderon had 11 points and 10 assists, and Rasho Nesterovic, Anthony Parker and Jose Calderon pitched in with 10 points each. Former Raptor Vince Carter scored 21 points to top the Nets (32-47), who will sit out the playoffs for the first time since 2001. With three games to go in the regular season, and on the tailend of a dreadful few weeks, the Raptors were eyeing the No. 6 spot in the East to avoid facing Detroit in the first round of the playoffs, plus looking to head into the post-season with some precious momentum. Toronto went into Friday one game behind Philadelphia, which lost 85-76 to Philadelphia, for the No. 6 seed. If the season ended now, the Raptors would face Orlando in the opening round. The Nets led for as much as 13 points in an ugly first quarter for Toronto, but the Raptors tightened up their defence and had pulled to within two points by the break, and then busted the game open with a superb third quarter. Ford contributed 12 points in the frame as the Raptors poured in 37 points and headed into the fourth with an 83-67 lead. The Nets managed to pull within 13 points in the fourth, but that was as close as they would get. The Raptors killed any glimmering hope for the Nets with an offensive outpouring, a reverse layup by Calderon with 4:23 left giving Toronto a 25-point lead, bringing the capacity crowd of 19,800 to its feet. They would lead by as much as 27 points before the final whistle blew. The game came two days after Bosh called out the crowd for being too quiet, and posted a video on YouTube imploring the fans to get behind the team. He needn't have said anything _ for this game at least. The crowd is never quiet when Carter is in town, and Friday was no different. Carter, who spent the first six years of his career in Toronto before requesting a trade during the 2004-05 season, was booed during introductions, and whenever he handled the ball. He appeared perturbed by the jeering as the game went on and when the crowd chanted ``V.C. sucks'' as he drained a pair of free throws in the third quarter, he blew the fans a kiss as he ran back up the court. Toronto had lost to the Nets 99-90 in New Jersey last week, part of a three-game losing streak that the Raptors snapped Wednesday with a win over Milwaukee. Bosh shot 7-for-12 on the night, and played with plenty of passion, while Delfino had the hot hand, connecting on five three-pointers. The Raptors shot 49 per cent, and outrebounded the Nets 47-39. The first quarter was ugly for the Raptors, who allowed the Nets to shoot 61 per cent and take a 13-point lead. New Jersey led 30-18 heading into the second. The Raptors fell behind by 14 points early in the second, but Delfino drained a three-pointer that sparked a 14-2 run that pulled Toronto to within a point. The Nets led 48-46 at the break. New Jersey trailed by just a point midway through the third, but the Raptors outscored the visitors 19-5 to the end of the quarter to lead 83-67 with one quarter left. NOTES: The Raptors are in Detroit to face the Pistons on Sunday in a possible playoff preview, then head home to host Miami on Monday before wrapping up the regular season Wednesday at Chicago. . . Rasho Nesterovic has scored in double figures in 16 consecutive games. . . Carter had scored a total of 44 points his previous three visits to the ACC _ all of them losses. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs New Jersey Nets Apr.11/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks Apr.9/08 When Chris Bosh launched a three-pointer late in the third quarter, the Raptors all-star forward let out a guttural scream as he strutted back up the court. The basket was part of a third-quarter Raptors surge that turned the game in Toronto's favour and helped erase the self-doubt that seemed to be creeping into the team's locker-room. Bosh had 32 points and 11 rebounds to go with four blocks and three steals, as the Raptors ended their three-game losing streak with a 111-93 win Wednesday over the Milwaukee Bucks. ``A win always is a good remedy for things like that,'' said Bosh, when asked about the team chemistry and confidence. ``We made shots, we made good plays, we attacked the basket, we got points in the paint, things really worked out for us.'' Former Raptor Charlie Villanueva scored a season-high 38 points, including a career-high seven three-pointers, and added 12 rebounds to lead Milwaukee (26-52). Anthony Parker finished with 18 points for Toronto (39-39), while Rasho Nesterovic and T.J. Ford finished with 14 apiece, and Andrea Bargnani added 10. ``The guys played hard and hopefully this gives them a bit of individual confidence and we're going to continue to build on tonight,'' said Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. The one negative on the night for Bosh was the crowd of 18,569 at the Air Canada Centre, which ended a streak of nine consecutive sellouts. Bosh criticized the fans after the game for being too quiet. ``Could you hear yourself talk?'' Bosh said. ``We're getting ready for the playoffs. I'm just saying, I'm excited. I don't know if anyone else is excited, I'm not waiting for next week, I'm trying to do it right now, and that's the kind of mentality we have to take, the whole organization.'' With four games to go in the regular season, the Raptors entered Wednesday's matchup having won just four of their previous 15, and in danger of staggering into the playoffs in seventh place, which would pit them against the Detroit Pistons in the first round. Looking to halt their recent slide, the Raptors spent a couple of practices focusing solely on defence. ``We've got to play better defence. Better defence. D. . . fence,'' a testy Mitchell said before the game. ``You know, like the people hold up that gate with the `D' and the fence? Defence. It's as simple as that.'' The work paid off. The Raptors didn't lead by more than eight points in the first half, but kept the Bucks in check save Villanueva and his hot hand. The Raptors finally took control with an energetic third quarter in which they stretched their lead to 16 points and outscored the Bucks 33-20 to take an 83-68 advantage into the fourth. ``This was our must-win game,'' said Rasho Nesterovic. ``We carried on what we did in practices the last couple of days and played like we did in practice, and I hope we're going to carry it on in the next four games and in the playoffs.'' The lottery-bound Bucks cut Toronto's lead to 10 points with 4:45 to go, but that was as close as they would come as five consecutive points by Parker, including a three with 2:45 left, put the Raptors back up by 16, and Toronto cruised to a much-needed win. The Raptors shot 54 per cent on the night, and held the Bucks to 42 per cent. Both teams grabbed 41 rebounds. Toronto outscored the Bucks 48-32 in the paint. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks Apr.9/08

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Toronto Raptors vs New Jersey Nets Apr.6/08 No matter how much his right ankle hurts, Vince Carter is going to give the New Jersey Nets everything he can as long as they still have playoff hopes. A day after the ankle prevented him from playing against Detroit, Carter returned to the lineup and scored 32 points to lead the Nets to a 99-90 victory over the struggling Toronto Raptors on Saturday night. ``This means a lot to me, just to be able to finish the season,'' Carter said. ``I consider myself one of the veterans and one of the leaders of this team, and I'm setting the bar and fighting through the end of the season. You never know. I'm playing to win and finish the season strong.'' Despite ending a four-game losing streak, the Nets' magic number for being eliminated from post-season contention was reduced to two when Atlanta beat Philadelphia earlier Saturday. Any combination of Nets' losses or Hawks' wins totalling two will eliminate New Jersey from post-season contention for the first time in seven years. ``We're not quite mathematically out,'' said Carter, who scored 21 second-half points on 8-of-11 shooting. ``Maybe we are counted out, that doesn't mean we don't come out hard and compete each and every night.'' Carter admitted the ankle hurts and that it might require surgery after the season. ``It feels better than yesterday,'' he said. ``I am going to fight through it and get it done.'' Richard Jefferson added 28 points and Devin Harris had 12 points and seven assists as the Nets won for only the fourth time in 11 games. ``Pride is a factor every night,'' Jefferson said. ``We're a prideful group, including myself. It's not like we win and we show pride. If we weren't able to get the win tonight, it's not that we don't care. Every night we are coming out and trying to give it our all.'' Rasho Nesterovic had 22 points and 14 rebounds to lead the playoff-bound Raptors, who lost their third straight and 11th in 15 games. Chris Bosh added 18 points for Toronto, which had all five starters score in double figures. The bench contributed 13 points on 6-of-22 shooting. ``You never want to go into the playoffs not playing your best basketball, and we definitely have been far from that,'' guard Anthony Parker said. ``It's just a matter of getting it going our way quick.'' The Raptors didn't arrive at the Izod Arena until an hour before the game because of traffic coming from New York City, and it took them a couple of quarters to get going. New Jersey led by as many as 10 points in the first quarter, eight at the half and by two going into the final quarter. Carter, who also added seven rebounds and five assists, then took over. He scored on four of the Nets' first five possessions, starting it with a finger-roll in the lane, before adding two free throws and two jumpers. Marcus Williams followed the second jumper with a three-pointer and New Jersey suddenly was ahead 89-78 with 8:11 to play. ``It says a lot about him as a person,'' Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. ``When you look at his ankle, it is very swollen. He had every opportunity to sit it out, if not shut it down, yet he continues to fight. Vince is a first-class person.'' Notes: For the second time in a week, the game was delayed in the second quarter by a shredded net. ... Jamario Moon made his 70th start, tying Damon Stoudamire (1995-96) for the Raptors rookie record. ... Nesterovic has scored in double figures in 14 straight games. ... Nets backup C DeSagana Diop was inactive with a knee injury. ... Backup Raptors G Jose Calderon picked up four fouls in the second quarter. ... Toronto, which came into the game leading the NBA in three-point field goal percentage (39.8 per cent), was 3-of-22 from long range (13.6 per cent). Tags: Toronto Raptors vs New Jersey Nets Apr.6/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Bobcats Apr.4/08 Last season, the Toronto Raptors celebrated a trip to the playoffs on a plane after securing a post-season berth with a win in Philadelphia. The mood probably wasn't as jovial on a flight to New Jersey Friday night after the struggling Raptors (38-38) took the back door into the 2007-08 playoffs. Less than an hour after a frustrating 105-100 loss to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats (29-47) before a sellout crowd of 19,800 at the Air Canada Centre, the Raptors clinched a post-season berth for just the fifth time in their 13-year history when the Detroit Pistons beat the New Jersey Nets 106-87. The Raptors could drop under .500 for the first time since they were 6-7 on Nov. 24 with a loss Saturday against the Nets. If the playoffs started now, the Raptors would be in seventh spot in the Eastern Conference and facing a scary first-round matchup against the playoff-tested Detroit Pistons. The Raptors are a game behind the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards (both 39-37), who are tied for the fifth spot. Even though the playoffs were all but a foregone conclusion weeks ago, Raptors star Chris Bosh seemed to indicate these are desperate times for his team. When asked if the team has enough time to turn it around with six games left in the season, Bosh said: ``I have no idea. We're not acting like it to be honest. We have to play like the time is now and I don't think we're doing a good job of doing that''. Once again an athletic swingman _ the Bobcats' Jason Richardon_- had his way with the Raptors defence, scoring a game-high 27 points. Guard Raymond Felton added 21 with 14 in the fourth quarter. ``We're just not executing on defence when we need to,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. ``We have stretches where we play good defence and then we have stretches where we just don't. You can't do that trying to make the playoffs or going into the playoffs.'' Rasho Nesterovic tied Bosh with 23 points, a season-high for the Slovenian centre, who also had 10 rebounds. For the second game in a row, the Raptors couldn't wrap up a playoff spot on their own against a weaker opponent. The Bobcats outscored the Raptors 31-24 in the fourth quarter as they made a point of driving to the basket and battling for offensive rebounds. A steal by pint-sized point guard Earl Boykins off Raptors point guard T.J. Ford and an ensuing three-point play was the dagger. With less than 50 seconds left and the Raptors trailing 98-97, Boykins stripped the ball away from a dribbling Ford and raced down the court. He converted a lay-up and was fouled by Ford before putting the Bobcats up 101-97 with 41 seconds left on a free-throw. ``I don't think that one play dictates the whole game,'' said Ford, who was having a strong game up until that point as he tied a season-high with 14 assists. ``I think we've just got to do a better job in the fourth quarters. We're going into the fourth quarter with leads and we're not doing a good job of protecting them.'' While Ford is playing well, he also has made some key mistakes down the stretch in the past two games. In Atlanta on Wednesday, Ford failed to foul Mike Bibby, who hit a game-tying three-pointer with 0.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter, leading to an overtime win for the Hawks. Toronto, the top three-point shooting team in the NBA, couldn't keep runs going because of their inability to hit the three-point shot in the opening half as they missed all six of their attempts. The Raptors finally hit a three on a Jamario Moon shot with 7:28 left in the third quarter, extending the team's record streak of hitting at least one three to 772 games. Notes: Bobcats starting forward Gerald Wallace left the game at halftime with left groin soreness. Matt Carroll took his spot to open the second half ... Since returning to the starting lineup, Ford is averaging 14.4 points and 8.8 assists in five games ... Nesterovic scored in double figures for the 12th game in a row. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Bobcats Apr.4/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08 In three NBA seasons, Josh Smith has built a reputation on fierce play in the paint. Smith won't hesitate to shoot jumpers, though, if the Atlanta Hawks need a big basket. ``I'm not a three-point shooter,'' he said, ``but if it comes to me, I'll take it.'' Mike Bibby hit a tying three-pointer in regulation, Smith made two in overtime, and the Hawks beat the Toronto Raptors 127-120 on Wednesday night for their fifth straight victory. Atlanta increased its lead for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot to four games over Indiana, which lost 92-77 at Boston. Toronto is tied for fifth place with Washington and Philadelphia, but Raptors coach Sam Mitchell might file a protest with the NBA after the officials discounted T.J. Ford's basket with no time remaining. Mitchell argued with referee Mark Wunderlich, who watched the instant replay, that Philips Arena officials started the clock early with just 0.5 seconds remaining. ``We had some opportunities tonight, but things just didn't go our way in the end,'' Mitchell said. ``Sometimes these things happen.'' Smith's three-pointer from the right side, making it 114-113 with 2:05 left in overtime, gave the Hawks their first lead since Josh Childress hit a pair of free throws with 4:25 left in the second quarter. Chris Bosh's three-point play put Atlanta back ahead with 1:18 to play, but Bibby followed with a three before Josh Childress blocked Ford's jump shot. Smith's three from nearly the same spot as his previous attempt made it 122-118. Ford thought his basket at the end of regulation should've counted. The Hawks were fooled badly on the play, which was designed for Ford to line up at the top of the key and run toward Carlos Delfino and catch an inbounds pass. Instead, Ford ran easily into the lane and jumped for Delfino's alley-oop pass. The officials originally ruled that Ford banked in his basket as the horn sounded. ``I thought it could go either way,'' Ford said. ``I didn't want to get too excited.'' Bosh had 24 points for Toronto, and Ford finished with 23 points and 13 assists. Rasho Nesterovic scored 21 points and reserve guard Jose Calderon handed out 10 assists for the Raptors. Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points. Bibby had 26 and Smith finished with 24. Bibby and Johnson combined for 23 assists. Al Horford pulled down 11 rebounds. Bibby forced overtime with a three-pointer from the left corner, taking Childress' inbound bounce pass from the baseline and faking out Ford. Not one to show much emotion, Bibby denied that he celebrated with a little dance. ``It was a walk,'' he said with a smile. ``My mom will not like it.'' Leading by 17 on Nesterovic's runner with 1:09 left in the third, Toronto had almost nothing go right after Jamario Moon's 18-footer gave it a 105-98 lead with 5:19 remaining. The Raptors made just one basket in their last nine possessions of regulation _ a six-foot runner by Ford that gave them a 107-104 lead with 1:32 left. Toronto was 15-for-20 from the field in the third quarter, led by Anthony Parker's 4-for-4, before everyone but Ford and Bosh went cold. ``When you're on the road playing in a tough environment, you have to execute,'' Bosh said. ``The Hawks have been playing very well, and we knew they would make a run. We did a pretty good job withstanding the run, but everything just didn't fall our way tonight. I wouldn't take anything away from Atlanta. They played hard tonight.'' For Smith, who grew up in Atlanta and entered the NBA straight from high school, winning a tight game was just what the playoff-starved Hawks needed. ``We're confident,'' Smith said. ``We feel good about ourselves. We feel like the sky's the limit for this team. We're not taking nights off.'' Notes: With a 35-40 record, Atlanta matched its highest victory total since 2002-03. ... The Hawks, who haven't made the playoffs since 1999, will put first-round tickets on sale Saturday. ... They beat the Raptors for the first time in five tries. ... Nesterovic's three-pointer at the end of the first quarter was his first in 11 career regular-season attempts. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Atlanta Hawks Apr.2/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Bobcats Mar.31/08 Quiet Chris Bosh is suddenly talking all over the court, and the Toronto Raptors hope the newfound motormouth will lead them on a playoff run. Bosh put up offensive numbers consistent with his All-Star season on Monday night: 32 points, eight rebounds and 13 of 16 free-throw shooting. But the striking scene in the Raptors' 104-100 win over the Charlotte Bobcats was the sight of Bosh yelling out instructions on defense, warning teammates of back screens and announcing double-teams. It's something Bosh, never one to light up a room with boisterous conversation, decided he must do. "Sometimes I catch myself being quiet, but then I have to pick it back up and start talking again," Bosh said. "I'm not a talker by nature. That's how I am naturally. So I know I have to step outside of myself because I really like winning." The Raptors need wins as they try to avoid slipping to seventh place in the Eastern Conference and a likely first-round playoff matchup with powerful Detroit. Their third win in four games kept them alone in sixth, a game ahead of idle Philadelphia. Bosh was the difference as Toronto avenged a 22-point loss to Charlotte on March 2 when the Bobcats held a 32-0 edge on second-chance points. Bosh didn't play in that game. With the Raptors' talkative big man clogging the middle, Charlotte managed only seven offensive rebounds as its three-game winning streak was snapped. "I thought Rasho (Nesterovic) and Chris, I could hear them talking on defense," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "Rasho is rubbing off on Chris, as far as communicating in the back." Nesterovic added 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Anthony Parker scored 20 points and T.J. Ford added 15, including the clinching free throw with 1.9 seconds left. Jason Richardson scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half for the Bobcats. Gerald Wallace scored 20 points and Emeka Okafor had 18 points and 12 rebounds. Charlotte's faint playoff hopes took a hit, thanks to 45-percent shooting against that noisy defense. "If you call out a cross screen, guys are always looking to see where screens are coming and they are no surprises," Bosh said. They won't get stood up by a screen, that's how you get beat backdoor. "If you talk, that makes the offense hesitate, too. If you say you're coming to double, the guy is going to wait on you a little bit, and that kind of stalls them. There are advantages all the way around." The defense helped carry Toronto in a game of large momentum shifts. 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. 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 Charlotte's chances. "I think it was just the backlash of the West Coast trip," said Wallace of Charlotte's first game following a 3-2 trip that included a win at the Los Angeles Lakers. "Our legs just weren't in it tonight." The weary Bobcats, who had played 10 of their last 11 on the road, were no match for the energetic Bosh. He made 9 of 20 shots and added five assists in 46 minutes. It's what the Raptors need to break out of their doldrums following last season's division title. "He's huge," Richardson said. "He's their leader. He's their superstar. He does a lot of things and had a great game." 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. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Charlotte Bobcats Mar.31/08

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Toronto Raptors vs New Orleans Hornets Mar.30/08 Chris Paul showed why he's a contender for league MVP honours Sunday, and the Toronto Raptors had a front-row seat. Paul finished with 20 points and 16 assists, dismantling every defensive scheme Toronto threw at him, en route to a 118-111 Hornets victory that ended a four-game Raptors' homestand. ``You try trapping him, but he backs out of it and splits it,'' said Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. ``He made some passes and I don't even see how he found the guy. There's definitely a legit argument that he's the best point guard in the league and he's a definite MVP candidate.'' Chris Bosh had 21 points and seven rebounds to top Toronto (37-36), while Carlos Delfino added 18 points, Rasho Nesterovic had 14, and Jamario Moon finished with 13. T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon finished with 10 points apiece, while Calderon added 11 assists, and Kris Humphries had 10 points. David West led all scorers with 32 points, while Peja Stojakovic added 25 points for New Orleans (50-22). Former Raptor Morris Peterson finished with eight points in his first trip back to the Air Canada Centre since he departed last summer for New Orleans. Toronto struggled against New Orleans from the opening whistle, as West scored 16 points in the first quarter and the Raptors found themselves trailing by 14 points, a deficit that turned out to be insurmountable against the No. 1 team in the Western Conference. When Paul wasn't finding an open teammate, he was driving to the basket for a seemingly easy layup. ``You really have to give it to them, we switched up our schemes, tried to do different things, but they had seen it all,'' said Bosh. ``There wasn't anything that we could throw at them to throw their offence off.'' Toronto pulled within eight points early in the third quarter, but the Hornets took off on an 18-2 run that put the visitors up by 24. The Hornets led 101-79 with a quarter left in the game. With the second units on the floor for both teams in the final few minutes including Linton Johnson, who saw his first action as a Raptor Toronto made a run. A three-pointer by Moon, then baskets by Humphries and Calderon made it a six-point game with 1:34 left, bringing the capacity crowd of 19,800 at the Air Canada Centre to its feet. ``Their bench just ate our lunch,'' said Hornets coach Byron Scott. But Paul pulled off his sweats and re-entered the game, firing passes to West for a basket and an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler for an emphatic dunk with 37 seconds left had the ACC crowd heading for the exits, as the Raptors lost a crucial matchup with just nine games left in the regular-season. ``(Paul) comes back in and he makes two plays, I'm not going to say simple plays, but he makes it look easy,'' said Mitchell. ``He's just tough.'' The good news for the Raptors: it was their last game of the season against a Western Conference team. ``We're done with them,'' Bosh said. ``Peace to all those guys. I hope they have fun duking it out, we're just worried about the East now.'' Peterson, who played all seven seasons of his NBA career in Toronto before signing as a free agent with the Hornets last summer, received a standing ovation during team introductions and then kneeled down to kiss the floor at centre court. ``It just means a lot to me,'' said Peterson, who spent Saturday in Toronto doing some shopping and having dinner with friends. ``I spent seven years here and they watched me grow as a player and a person and to come back meant a lot . . . I wanted to show my appreciation.'' Numerous fans were wearing Peterson's No. 24 Raptors jersey, and after the game, he threw his jersey and his shoes up into the crowd. ``I really cannot put into words how special it was to come back and get the kind of reception that I did,'' Peterson said. Johnson, signed to a 10-day contract by Toronto on Thursday, played the final 7:46 and finished with six points. The Raptors briefly held the lead in the early going Sunday, but the Hornets used a 16-2 run to take an 11-point lead midway through the first quarter. New Orleans would stretch it to14 points before taking a 37-28 advantage into the second. The Hornets controlled the second quarter, leading by 14 points several times. A three-pointer by Bosh pulled Toronto within eight points but Paul responded with a three of his own with five seconds left in the half and the Hornets were up 69-58 at the break. A three-pointer by Peterson with 5:38 left in the third quarter had the Hornets up 87-63, their biggest lead of the game to that point. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs New Orleans Hornets Mar.30/08

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Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Mar.29/08 Chris Bosh is rounding back into form and T.J. Ford's confidence is on the rise, and that's good news for Toronto with 10 games to go in the regular season. Bosh had 29 points and 10 rebounds, and Ford added 10 points and nine assists in one of his best games in months, to lead the Raptors to a 103-95 win over the hapless New York Knicks on Friday. The win wasn't a particularly inspired one for the Raptors, but it was their second in a row after an ugly stretch of poor performances, and it was good enough to propel the Raptors to sixth in the Eastern Conference. ``It's really important, we definitely want to go into the playoffs on a roll,'' Bosh said. ``It's all about momentum and if we can start some momentum up right, I think that will look really good for us and be a big confidence booster.'' [ ] Rasho Nesterovic added 18 points and eight boards in another strong game for the Raptors (37-35). ``I thought Rasho, for the last month and a half (played well),'' said Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. ``We just have to keep him going the way he's been going. He's played great.'' Anthony Parker added 15 points and Andrea Bargnani chipped in with 12 points. Jamal Crawford led the struggling Knicks (20-52) with 26 points, while Jared Jeffries added 21. The Raptors led from the opening whistle, and looked headed for a relatively easy night, taking a 17-point lead in the second quarter. But instead of putting the Knicks away for good, they squandered their lead in a matter of four minutes as the Knicks cut the lead to three points. ``For whatever reason, we just could not put this game away,'' Mitchell said. ``We would make a little spurt but they would come down and get a three-point play or hit a shot or we would come down and turn the ball over, but we just could not put them away.'' Toronto took a 76-68 lead into the fourth quarter in front of a capacity crowd of 19,800 at the Air Canada Centre, and stretched it to 11 points early in the frame. New York fought to within eight points several times in the final few minutes, but could get no closer. With 2:31 left in the game, Ford brought the crowd to its feet when he faked out Jeffries, leaving the Knicks forward sprawling to the court, and the Raptors went on to secure an important win. Ford played well in only his second start since injuring his neck Dec. 11, shooting 5-for-7 from the field. ``I'm just trying to play, trying to get wins, trying to get a better seeding, understanding that we had a tough couple of weeks and we're trying to get things turned around,'' Ford said. ``The only way you can do that is continue to play the right way and play team basketball.'' Bosh, who shot 10-for-17 on the night, played 47 minutes and looked like he's finally over the knee injury that sidelined him for 10 games _ an ugly stretch for the Raptors who went 2-8 without him. ``Just (need to work on) conditioning, today I was pretty tired,'' Bosh said. ``Best way to get in shape is playing games. ``I feel good, it's basketball at the end of the day to me, so it's just going to take a couple of days, couple of games just to get back. I've been working pretty hard in practice to get my legs back and working hard in game situations. I feel that I can really help this team out and I'll be 100 per cent when it counts.'' The Raptors shot 51 per cent on the night, and held the Knicks to 39 per cent. Toronto also outrebounded their visitors 45-38. Since the game went down to the final few minutes, Raptors newcomer Linton Johnson didn't get in the game. The Raptors signed the forward to a 10-day contract on Thursday, waiving veteran guard Darrick Martin. ``I'm just fortunate to be in the position to do something I love doing,'' Johnson said at the morning shootaround. ``I've been playing basketball all my life and I just appreciate the opportunity this organization's given me.'' Mitchell said the move wasn't made to send a particular message to his players, although he added that the team could play better. ``It's on everybody, pick it up, play better,'' Mitchell said. ``It's a message that we're trying to improve. ``(Johnson) is a really good young man, hard worker, and we just want to take a look at him. It's not a message purposely being sent but if someone in that locker-room perceives it as a message, then maybe they should wake up.'' The Raptors took a nine-point lead midway through the first quarter on a driving hook shot by Nesterovic. Toronto took a 32-23 advantage into the second. The Raptors stretched their lead to 17 points in the third quarter on a three-pointer by Carlos Delfino. But a 14-0 Knicks run cut the Raptors' lead down to just three points with 50 seconds left in the half. Toronto led 49-44 at the break. A three by Bosh capped a mini Raptors run in the third to put the home team up by 12 points, and Toronto headed into the fourth quarter ahead 76-68. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs New York Knicks Mar.29/08

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Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Mar.26/08 In the final few minutes with the game on the line, T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon were together on the court helping the Toronto Raptors secure a victory. The Raptors pride themselves on their two point guards and how well they work together, and Wednesday was a prime example. Hoping to turn around Toronto's sagging season, Calderon stepped aside to give up his spot in the starting lineup to Ford, and the Raptors went on to beat the Detroit Pistons 89-82 for just their second victory in their last nine games. ``It was like old times, when those two came in and that's been one of the strengths of our basketball team,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. ``We're hoping that that becomes a strength again of our team, both of those guys, because they're different in how they play.'' Chris Bosh scored 21 points to top Toronto (36-35), while Rasho Nesterovic added 15 points and nine rebounds. Ford finished with 13 points and nine assists in his first start since Dec. 11, while Calderon had 13 points off the bench. Carlos Delfino chipped in with 10 points. Chauncey Billups had 24 points to lead the Pistons (50-21), who were playing without Richard Hamilton (sore left hip). Neither team led by more than five points in the first half in what may have been a sneak peak at the first round of the playoffs _ if the season ended Wednesday, the Raptors would battle Detroit in the opening round. A spectacular alley-oop dunk by Jamario Moon with three minutes left in the third sparked a Raptors surge, and with Bosh contributing eight points in the final 2:20 of the quarter, Toronto was up 61-51 heading into the fourth. A three by Bargnani capped a 7-0 run to open the final quarter as the Raptors stretched their lead to a game-high 17 points. A pair of threes by Billups helped Detroit cut Toronto's lead to just five points with just under three minutes to play, but the Raptors weren't giving this one away, as Bosh scored a pair of baskets down the stretch to seal the victory for Toronto. Looking to put an end to the team's recent woes, Calderon approached the Raptors coaches about changing up the starting lineup. Mitchell was reluctant at first, but the team had lost seven of its eight previous games heading into Wednesday and had fallen to seventh in the Eastern Conference, so the coach finally relented Wednesday. ``I went to him because I think we needed to change something because something wasn't working, so I think it's a team thing,'' Calderon said. ``We needed something, we didn't know exactly what was going on.'' Calderon started the 48 games since Ford injured his neck crashing to the court Dec. 11 in Atlanta. Ford missed 24 games, and then came off the bench for 24 games. ``I think that's big for us, we need more guys like (Calderon),'' Bosh said. ``Both him and T.J. have been very unselfish with their starting positions and they want what's best for the team. I think it showed tonight with Jose making a move like that, it says a lot about his character, I don't think a lot of other players would do that.'' Ford said the Raptors are at their best when the two guards are playing well together. ``It worked out great for us, in a stretch where we both were playing well,'' he said. ``I think whenever you have both of us on the court it's a big factor because I'm more of a penetrator, and with his shooting ability he's a big threat. It worked out in our favour.'' Mitchell hopes that Calderon can help get the Raptors' bench playing well again. ``Early in the season they were an important part of what we were doing to win games,'' Mitchell said. Nesterovic started in place of Bargnani and wound up playing a solid 46 minutes a team-high. ``New looks, new mix of players and it worked today,'' Nesterovic said. ``We hope it will work for the rest of the season.'' The Raptors shot 49 per cent on Wednesday, while the Pistons connected on 41 per cent of their shots. Detroit outrebounded Toronto 41-35. ``Both teams struggled to get it going in the first half,'' said Billups. ``We couldn't do it, we couldn't get over the hump.'' Bosh led the way with seven points in the first quarter, and a jumper by Nesterovic put the Raptors up by four points. But they couldn't put any distance on Detroit, and the Pistons led 20-19 heading into the second. A three by Delfino early in the second capped a 12-4 Raptors run that put them up 29-24. But the Pistons held Toronto to just two points in almost six minutes, and took a 35-33 advantage into the dressing room at halftime. The Raptors outscored the Pistons 16-8 in the third, and ended the quarter on a 16-8 run to take a 61-51 lead into the fourth. Tags: Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Mar.26/08

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