Raptors-Suns Preview

By NOEY KUPCHAN
Posted Jan 24 2012 1:04AM

Unable to get things going in the first quarter, the reeling Toronto Raptors continue to falter.

If recent history versus the Phoenix Suns is any indication, Toronto could have a hard time putting an end to its woes.

Hoping to avoid a ninth consecutive defeat, the Raptors visit a Suns team looking to extend its winning streak in this series to 15 games Tuesday night.

Averaging a league-worst 19.3 points over the first 12 minutes, Toronto's first-quarter struggles continued during Sunday's 103-91 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. The Raptors (4-13) opened their five-game trip with another sluggish effort, getting outscored 27-11 in the opening quarter before ultimately suffering their eighth straight defeat.

"Another loss - and the way we lost is definitely frustrating," said swingman DeMar DeRozan, who finished with 15 points on 4-of-19 shooting. "We dug ourselves our own hole. We tried to fight back, but teams are too good in this league to allow that. Teams are going out there and jumping on our team. No one likes to take a loss, so we need to act like it from the start."

While playing without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani (strained left calf) for the last six games certainly hasn't helped, Toronto has shot just 39.1 percent from the floor and been outscored by an average of 11.7 points during its skid.

"Our starts have been horrendous. We compete harder in practice than we do to start the games," coach Dwane Casey said.

"Like I told the team, we're gonna continue to work, we're gonna continue to get better - that's where we are and that's the only thing we can do."

Bargnani, averaging 22.3 points and a career-best 6.5 rebounds, is listed as day-to-day but could return Tuesday. The Raptors would surely love to see their most dangerous offensive threat back on the court as they try to knock off Phoenix (6-10) for the first time in almost eight years.

Since prevailing 101-94 on the road Feb. 10, 2004, the Raptors have been outscored by 12.3 points per game in losing 14 in a row to the Suns.

After posting back-to-back victories, Phoenix closed out a five-game trek with Monday's 93-87 loss at Dallas. The Suns outrebounded the Mavericks 52-42, but they shot a season-worst 37.3 percent from the floor and committed 19 turnovers - eight by Grant Hill.

Marcin Gortat continued his impressive play with 19 points and a season-best 17 boards for his eighth double-double in as many games. Gortat's impressive numbers, however, haven't translated into many wins for the Suns, who have gone 2-6 over that stretch.

The Suns, who scored 105.5 points per game at home last season, have been held to 96.1 per game in going 3-4 at US Airways Center.

Toronto's Leandro Barbosa, who spent the first seven years of his career with Phoenix, is averaging 17.6 points off the bench over his last seven contests.

Bargnani has posted 25.7 points per game on 53.6 percent shooting in his last three meetings with the Suns.

Bargnani returns, Raptors end skid against Suns

By BOB BAUM
Posted Jan 25 2012 12:55AM

PHOENIX (AP) Andrea Bargnani's return provided the Toronto Raptors with the lift to end two losing streaks - one that had lasted two weeks, the other eight years.

Bargnani, absent for six games with a left calf strain, scored 27 of his 36 points in the second half, and the Toronto Raptors snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating Phoenix 99-96 on Tuesday night, their first win over the Suns in eight years.

The Raptors had lost 14 in a row to Phoenix, last beating the Suns on Feb. 10, 2004. It was tied for the third-longest active streak of its kind in the NBA.

Bargnani scored 18 in the third, one shy of his career best for a quarter, making 4 of 5 3-pointers.

"I didn't do anything different from the first quarter because I was pretty aggressive in the first quarter too, I just didn't score," he said. "Jose (Calderon) told me to shoot from the outside because I was just driving the ball and everybody was waiting for me. They found me open and they went in. it was all good. `'

Former Suns star Leandro Barbosa scored 19 and James Johnson 18 for the Raptors.

Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 12 rebounds and Steve Nash had 17 points and 14 assists for the Suns. Hakim Warrick also scored 17 points.

Phoenix was back from a five-game road trip that ended the previous night with a loss at Dallas.

"Obviously we were struggling for energy and I think that was the key, especially in that third quarter," Nash said. "They beat us on all the second-effort plays. They made a lot more of the plays, hustling for loose balls or running the floor, little things like that."

Nash said Bargnani is especially effective when the 3s start to fall for him.

"It really stretches the floor and that makes him a terrific driver because you have to get out to him so quickly," Nash said. "He was just too much for us."

Toronto trailed by as many as 14 early and was down 52-48 at the break. A 10-0 run put the Raptors ahead 79-69 on Barbosa's 15-footer with 30 seconds left in the third. Warrick's layup made it an eight-point margin entering the final quarter.

Barbosa's running bank shot gave Toronto its biggest lead at 83-71 with 9 1/2 minutes to play. Bargnani's 14-foot runner a 93-87 advantage before the Suns managed a late threat.

Jared Dudley's 3-pointer cut it to 94-90 then after an exchange of baskets, Dudley stole Rasual Butler's inbounds pass for a breakaway dunk to cut the lead to 96-94 with 23 seconds left. But Vargnani - 12 of 12 at the line for the game - sank two free throws with 22.9 seconds to go and the Suns misfired from long-range to seal the outcome.

"Andrea coming back makes everything easier for everbody else," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "He opens up the lane for L.B. for layups, James to get in the lane and get offensive boards. He is kind of the hub for everybody to play off of."

The Suns made 9 of their first 13 shots to take a 24-14 lead and were up 35-21 after Sebastian Telfair made two free throws with 9:26 left in the second quarter. Phoenix still led 52-42 on Michael Redd's 19-footer, but James Johnson scored the final 6 seconds of the half to cut the lead to 52-48 at the break.

Suns backup center Robin Lopez was ejected after a run-in with referee Rodney Mott with 8:14 left in the first half. Lopez, upset with a foul call, glared at Mott as he walked to the Suns bench, brushed against the official as he walked past him, then turn around and glared again before the ref decided he'd seen enough.

NOTES: Entering the game, the only active win streaks longer than the Suns-Raptors were Portland's 16 straight over Minnesota and the Los Angeles Lakers' 15 in a row over Minnesota. ... Toronto had Monday off after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. The Raptors were on the second stop of a four-game trip. ... The Suns' Grant Hill went to the bench bleeding after getting hit in the face fouling Bargnani in the waning seconds. ... It was the first time Toronto beat Phoenix since Nash rejoined the Suns prior to the 2004-05 season.

Notebook: Raptors 99, Suns 96

By Mike Tulumello, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 25, 2012 12:34AM

THE FACTS: Andrea Bargnani shook off his sore left calf and returned to the Toronto Raptors' lineup Tuesday night in Phoenix.

That was enough for the Raptors to snap their eight-game losing streak by coming from behind, then holding on for a 99-96 win over the Suns.

Bargnani, who had missed six straight games, scored 36 points, including 12-for-12 from the free-throw line.

Leandro Barbosa scored 19 off the bench for the Raptors.

For the Suns, Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Steve Nash added 17 points and 14 assists.

The Suns (6-11) led 52-48 at halftime, though the Raptors took over with a 31-19 edge in the third quarter.

The Raptors (5-13) nearly gave it away at the end, though.

The Suns' Jared Dudley stole the ball at midcourt and drove in for a layup with 23 seconds left to cut the lead to 96-94. But Bargnani hit two free throws, Nash's layup spun out, and the Raptors had the win.

QUOTABLE: "Andrea makes everything easy for everybody else."
-- Raptors coach Dwane Casey.

THE STAT: The Suns had won 14 straight vs. the Raptors, their longest such active streak and one of the longest in the entire NBA.

TURNING POINT: The Suns led throughout the first half, but the Raptors edged back in the game by closing out the half with a 9-2 run that closed the gap to 52-48 at the break.

The Raptors dominated the third quarter by outscoring the Suns 26-11 over a 9-minute span that gave them a 79-69 lead.

QUOTABLE II: "I give credit to my teammates. They kept looking for me. That got me in a rhythm."
-- Andrea Bargnani, who admitted being rusty in a 9-point (2-for-8) first half.

FANTASY SPOTLIGHT: In addition to Bargnani, the Raptors Jerryd Bayless played his second straight game (he shot 1-for-6) after missing 13 in a row with an ankle injury.

GOOD MOVE: In addition to Bargnani's return, Casey shook up his starting lineup further by inserting center Aaron Gray for Amir Johnson. A lineup of Gray, Bargnani and James Johnson up front with guards Jose Calderon and Barbosa took control of the game in the third quarter.

BAD MOVE: The Suns' 11-man rotation didn't work.

ROOKIE WATCH: Suns coach Alvin Gentry is thinking of returning forward Markief Morris to a reserve role. Morris had four points and one board in 17 minutes and was unsuccessful in chasing around Bargnani Tuesday night. Before the game, Gentry said, "He's going against front-line players. I'm not sure that's the right thing for him now."

NOTABLE: Suns center Robin Lopez was ejected in the second quarter for bumping a referee. The Suns fell to an embarrassing 3-5 at home. This includes losses to New Orleans, New Jersey, Cleveland and, now, Toronto.

UP NEXT: For the Raptors, Wednesday @ Utah, Friday @ Denver, Sunday @ New Jersey. For the Suns, Friday @ Portland, Saturday vs. Memphis, Monday vs. Dallas.

• Raptors: Alabi, Magloire
• Suns: --

• Raptors: --
• Suns: Lopez, Nash

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #71 Rodney Mott, #44 Eli Roe
• Attendance: 15404
• Duration: 2:20