Shorthanded Raptors make Magic disappear
Last Updated: Thursday, March 22, 2007 | 1:54 AM ET
CBC Sports
With several key players out, the Toronto Raptors knew they would need a lift from somewhere in the lineup.
They just didn't need to look beyond their best players.
Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh gets a basketball behind the head after a dunk in Toronto's 92-85 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday. Bosh scored 34 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in the win.
(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press) Led by outstanding contributions from Chris Bosh and T.J. Ford, the Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic 92-85 at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday.
Toronto had been reeling recently thanks in part to the absence of starting shooting guard Anthony Parker and backup point guard Jose Calderon.
The team suffered another blow early on Wednesday morning when it learned that first overall draft selection Andrea Bargnani was admitted to hospital for an emergency appendectomy, and would be out for two to four weeks.
But on Wednesday night, the Raptors regrouped behind their leaders.
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Bosh led all scorers with 34 points and grabbed 16 rebounds, and Ford added a double-double of 16 points and 12 assists for the Raptors, who snapped a two-game slide.
"We're trying to win basketball games, and your better players have got to play more minutes at this time of the season and into the playoffs," said Raptors head coach Sam Mitchell. "It was a beautiful game because we won, we made a lot of mistakes, we didn't shoot the ball well.
"We won the game playing defence and rebounding, something we've had problems with."
Toronto's record at home improved to an impressive 24-10.
Grant Hill poured in 24 points, while forward Dwight Howard added 17 points and 12 rebounds in defeat for the Magic, who dropped to 11-24 on the road this season.
"We definitely knew they were short-handed, but they are still a good team," said Howard. "They have been playing well all season."
Orlando also fell a half-game out of a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots in the NBA's Eastern Conference.
The Raptors moved to 3-0 in the season series against the Magic, and have won seven of their last nine meetings. Orlando has lost six straight and seven of its last eight contests in Toronto.
Raptors paced by Bosh
Toronto got off to an excellent start in the first quarter by going to Bosh early and often. The power forward shot 3-5 for eight points in the quarter, including two thunderous dunks that electrified the spectators.
Ford was also active in the first frame by always looking for the extra pass and racking up five assists in the process.
At the other end of the floor, the Raptors held the Magic to a paltry 27 per cent shooting from the floor (6-22) that enabled them to take a 24-17 lead after 12 minutes of play.
Early in the second quarter, Ford drilled a three-pointer, stole the ensuing inbounds pass and quickly threw up a pretty one-handed lob pass that Bosh dunked emphatically.
But Hill's seven points in the quarter on several key jump shots kept the Magic within striking distance by halftime, when the Raptors led 45-40.
Orlando went 3:25 without a point midway through the quarter, allowing Toronto to take a 13-point lead.
Hill's hot shooting night continued in the third quarter. He poured in 10 points in the final six minutes of the third to bring Orlando back to within four points, at 67-63.
The fourth quarter saw the Magic endure another lengthy 2:30 scoring drought to start the frame, and Toronto built another double-digit lead.
Orlando chipped away thanks to the hot hand of guard Jameer Nelson, who shot a perfect 3-3 from three-point range on his way to 12 points in the quarter.
Bosh and Ford, however, combined to score 12 consecutive points down the stretch, cementing the victory.
The two teams will meet for the final time during the regular season on April 4.
The Raptors, meanwhile, will welcome Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets to the Air Canada Centre on Friday. _________________ kyranŠ
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