November 21, 2007

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Chris Bosh had 22 points and 19 rebounds, and the Toronto Raptors overcame a poor shooting performance to beat the Memphis Grizzlies 95-89 Wednesday night.

Jason Kapono added 14 points, while Andrea Bargnani and Carlos Delfino scored 13 apiece. Bargnani also had 11 rebounds.

The Raptors snapped a two-game losing streak despite shooting 39 per cent. Bargnani finished 5-of-16 from the field, while Jose Calderon, who had 10 points and eight assists, was 4-of-13.

With the win, head coach Sam Mitchell recorded his 113th victory at the helm of the Raptors, tying Lenny Wilkens for the most wins in the club's 11-year history. Mitchell will have a chance to move into top spot on Saturday in Cleveland when the Raptors face the Cavaliers.

Mike Miller and Pau Gasol each had 16 points and 10 rebounds for Memphis, while Rudy Gay scored 15 points.

The teams were tied entering the fourth. After the Raptors built an early five-point lead in the period, Memphis erased the advantage with nine unanswered points.

Memphis held an 82-80 lead with 2:33 left after Kyle Lowry hit a free throw. But the Raptors reeled off a 9-0 run for an 89-82 lead, and held on to break a four-game losing streak in Memphis.

For the most part, it was a night of airballs from short distances, layups clanking off iron and close-range putbacks coming up short. But Toronto, the second-best three-point shooting team in the league at 42.9 per cent, connected on 11 of 21 attempts. Bargnani was 3-of-4 and Delfino 3-of-5.

Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half before the Raptors carried a 46-44 lead into the break. Bosh scored 12 points for Toronto. Miller registered the same amount for Memphis.

Despite shooting 25 per cent in the first quarter, Toronto was still close. Bargnani missed his first six shots and Bosh connected on only two of his initial eight attempts.

Both teams stayed below 38 per cent shooting in the half. While the Raptors shot poorly, they were protecting the ball, committing their only two turnovers in the first half.

The second half was slightly better from a shooting standpoint. Bargnani had eight points in the third quarter, but neither team could pull away, and they entered the fourth tied at 68.

Notes: Despite the win, Toronto is one of only three teams over which Memphis holds a series advantage. The other two are the Clippers and Charlotte Bobcats. ... Raptors G T.J. Ford sat out the game with an ``arm stinger'' sustained in the third quarter of Tuesday's game against Dallas. Ford took a knee to the chest as he tried to draw a charge. ... Memphis C Darko Milicic missed his third game because of a sprained left thumb. Meanwhile, rookie G Mike Conley missed his second game with a right shoulder injury. Memphis coach Marc Iavaroni said after medical experts evaluated the tear in the posterior labral, it was determined surgery, which could have ended Conley's season, was not necessary. ... Bosh already had his sixth double-double of the season by the four-minute mark of the second quarter. ... Stromile Swift was called for a flagrant foul in the first quarter when he tried to block Jamario Moon's breakaway layup, and Moon landed hard under the Raptors' basket.