Recap: Charlotte vs. Toronto
Sports Network | November 09, 2008
Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Chris Bosh scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors used a strong fourth quarter to defeat the Charlotte Bobcats, 89-79.
The Raptors outscored the Bobcats, 26-12, in the fourth quarter to snap a two- game losing streak. Andrea Bargnani added 18 points on 3-of-5 shooting from long range, and Jose Calderon registered 13 points and seven assists. Toronto shot 49.3 percent from the field and outrebounded Charlotte, 44-36.
"We just had to get back to believing in ourselves," Bosh said. "That's what it was all about. I think we kinda stopped talking about being a good team a little bit and just going out there and playing. We stopped demanding perfection from ourselves."
D.J. Augustin scored a team high 14 points for the Bobcats, who have lost three of four. Raymond Felton and Jason Richardson both scored 12 points, as Charlotte shot just 37 percent from the floor.
"Anytime we threw it in the post, we didn't get anything," Bobcats head coach Larry Brown said. "So we started (giving them) jump shots. and then they executed great. You have to give them credit. Bosh was phenomenal, and they just found open people just by spacing us out."
Down by four heading into the fourth quarter, the Raptors ripped off a 26-7 run to start the frame. Bargnani put the team in front, 70-69, with a layup, and with the game tied at 74, he hit a three-pointer to give Toronto the lead.
Bosh's dunk forced the Bobcats into a timeout, but it didn't help. The Raptors came out of the timeout and scored 10 straight points, as Bargnani's three with 1:42 left put Toronto up by 15, sealing the win.
Toronto jumped out to a 20-13 lead with 30 seconds left in the first, but Charlotte scored six points before the quarter was over to close to within one. Felton was fouled on a three-point attempt as time expired in the period, and he made all three free throws. Felton had eight points in the quarter to lead all scorers.
A couple of Augustin three-pointers gave the Bobcats a 27-24 lead a few minutes into the second. Augustin scored five points in a late Charlotte 7-2 run to close the half, and the Bobcats led 45-40 at the break.
Charlotte started off the third quarter by making their first five shots, extending their lead to nine in the first two minutes. But with the score 60-50 in favor of the hosts, Toronto went on a 13-4 run to close to within one.
Adam Morrison's three-pointer with 43 seconds left in the frame gave Charlotte some breathing room, and the Bobcats went into the fourth up 67-63.
The Raptors have won six of eight against Charlotte...Toronto's Jermaine O'Neal and Jamario Moon each had nine rebounds...Felton had six assists...The Bobcats shot 5-of-18 from long distance, while the Raptors went 4-for-17.
