GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: HOUSTON (11-9) at TORONTO (10-10)

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 69
TORONTO 80 5:59 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 74
TORONTO 86 3:18 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 78
TORONTO 93 0:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA HOUSTON 80
TORONTO 93 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
HOUSTON 22 23 11 24 80
TORONTO 16 18 28 31 93 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: HOU - TRACY MCGRADY 23, YAO MING 15, BONZI
WELLS 12
TOR - CHRIS BOSH 21, KRIS HUMPHRIES 16, CARLOS
DELFINO 12</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
HOUSTON 80
TORONTO 93 FINAL</div>

 

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Chris Bosh returned to spark the slumpingToronto Raptors.


Bosh scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half as theRaptors overcame a sluggish start Sunday afternoon to defeat theHouston Rockets, 93-80.


It was an impressive victory for Toronto, which had been playingwithout Bosh and fellow injured forward Andrea Bargnani.

Although Bargnani missed his fourth straight game with a kneeinjury, Bosh returned from a five-game absence to lead theRaptors, who erased a 16-2 first-quarter deficit.


A two-time All-Star, Bosh had been sidelined with a groininjury. But the talented big man certainly looked healthy inthis one, shooting 7-of-17 from the floor while finishing with10 rebounds and four blocks.


Bosh capped his afternoon with a free throw to make it 91-76with 1:04 remaining. The 23-year-old exited to a standingovation from the appreciative fans at Air Canada Centre.

Reserve Kris Humphries collected 16 points and nine reboundswhile Rasho Nesterovic spearheaded a terrific defensive effortagainst Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming, who finished with just15 points.


After rallying from their 14-point deficit to claw within 45-34at halftime, the Raptors dominated the pivotal third quarter,outscoring the Rockets by a 28-11 margin.


Tracy McGrady, who began his stellar NBA career with theRaptors, scored 23 points on just 7-of-21 shooting for Houston,which has lost four of its last five meetings with Toronto.

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (80) AT TORONTO (93)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S FRANCIS G 31:20 2-4 2-6 0 4 4 3 2 0 2 7
T MCGRADY G 36:49 7-21 8-10 0 4 4 3 2 2 4 23
C HAYES F 24:16 2-3 0-0 1 4 5 1 3 0 1 4
S BATTIER F 30:39 3-5 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 9
Y MING C 38:27 5-10 5-6 0 6 6 1 1 0 3 15
B WELLS 22:20 5-10 0-0 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 12
L SCOLA 17:54 1-3 0-0 0 5 5 3 5 0 0 2
M JAMES 16:40 1-6 2-2 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 4
L HEAD 11:11 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
C LANDRY 10:24 1-6 0-0 5 2 7 1 5 1 1 2
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
R ALSTON DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S NOVAK DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A BROOKS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 28-70 17-24 8 27 35 15 20 5 13 80
(.400) (.708) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 15 (0 PTS)

TORONTO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T FORD G 23:31 1-9 1-2 0 1 1 4 0 2 3 3
A PARKER G 25:12 5-8 0-0 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 11
C BOSH F 41:40 7-17 7-9 3 7 10 3 2 2 0 21
J MOON F 19:18 2-7 0-0 3 1 4 1 3 0 0 4
R NESTEROVIC C 30:00 4-11 1-2 3 4 7 1 3 1 0 9
J CALDERON 23:25 3-6 1-1 0 3 3 6 0 1 0 7
K HUMPHRIES 23:20 6-9 4-5 4 5 9 0 3 0 2 16
C DELFINO 22:56 3-9 4-4 3 5 8 2 5 1 2 12
J KAPONO 21:44 5-7 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 0 3 10
J GRAHAM 6:50 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
J DIXON 1:04 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
M BASTON 1:00 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
D MARTIN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J GARBAJOSA DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A BARGNANI DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-86 18-23 18 30 48 23 19 7 10 93
(.419) (.783) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 10 (0 PTS)

HOUSTON 22 23 11 24 - 80
TORONTO 16 18 28 31 - 93

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, S FRANCIS, S BATTIER, C LANDRY,
C HAYES. TORONTO - C BOSH 4, J MOON 2, R NESTEROVIC.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-19 (.368), S FRANCIS 1-2, T MCGRADY 1-
6, S BATTIER 3-5, B WELLS 2-3, L SCOLA 0-1, M JAMES 0-2. TORONTO 3-
9 (.333), A PARKER 1-1, J MOON 0-1, C DELFINO 2-5, J KAPONO 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - Y MING.
FLAGRANT FOULS: HOUSTON 1 (S FRANCIS, 4:39 4TH).
OFFICIALS: BENNETT SALVATORE, LEON WOOD, MARK LINDSEY.
A - 19,800. T - 1:40.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Francis 31:20 2-4 2-6 0-4 3 2 7
T McGrady 36:49 7-21 8-10 0-4 3 2 23
C Hayes 24:16 2-3 0-0 1-5 1 3 4
S Battier 30:39 3-5 0-0 1-1 0 0 9
Y Ming 38:27 5-10 5-6 0-6 1 1 15
B Wells 22:20 5-10 0-0 1-3 0 0 12
L Scola 17:54 1-3 0-0 0-5 3 5 2
M James 16:40 1-6 2-2 0-0 3 2 4
L Head 11:11 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
C Landry 10:24 1-6 0-0 5-7 1 5 2
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
R Alston DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Novak DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Brooks DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-70 17-24 8-35 15 20 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.708. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (S Francis 1-2, T McGrady 1-6, S
Battier 3-5, B Wells 2-3, L Scola 0-1, M
James 0-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:7 (Y Ming 3, S Francis, S Battier, C
Landry, C Hayes). Turnovers:13 (T McGrady 4,
Y Ming 3, S Francis 2, S Battier, C Landry, M
James, C Hayes). Steals: 5 (T McGrady 2, B
Wells, L Head, C Landry).


TORONTO (93)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Ford 23:31 1-9 1-2 0-1 4 0 3
A Parker 25:12 5-8 0-0 1-3 3 0 11
C Bosh 41:40 7-17 7-9 3-10 3 2 21
J Moon 19:18 2-7 0-0 3-4 1 3 4
R Nesterovic 30:00 4-11 1-2 3-7 1 3 9
J Calderon 23:25 3-6 1-1 0-3 6 0 7
K Humphries 23:20 6-9 4-5 4-9 0 3 16
C Delfino 22:56 3-9 4-4 3-8 2 5 12
J Kapono 21:44 5-7 0-0 0-1 3 2 10
J Graham 6:50 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 0 0
J Dixon 1:04 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
M Baston 1:00 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
D Martin DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J Garbajosa DNP - COACH'S DECISION
A Bargnani DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-86 18-23 18-48 23 19 93
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.419, FT-.783. 3-Point Goals:
3-9, .333 (A Parker 1-1, J Moon 0-1, C
Delfino 2-5, J Kapono 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:7 (C Bosh 4, J Moon 2, R
Nesterovic). Turnovers:10 (J Kapono 3, T Ford
3, C Delfino 2, K Humphries 2). Steals: 7 (T
Ford 2, C Bosh 2, R Nesterovic, C Delfino, J
Calderon).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 22 23 11 24 - 80
TORONTO 16 18 28 31 - 93
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (Y Ming, 9:52
4th).
Flagrant fouls: Houston 1 (S Francis, 4:39
4th). A: 19,800. T: 1:40. Officials: Bennett
Salvatore, Leon Wood, Mark Lindsey.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (80) AT TORONTO (93)

HOUSTON

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

S FRANCIS G 31:20 2-4 2-6 0 4 4 3 2 0 2 7
T MCGRADY G 36:49 7-21 8-10 0 4 4 3 2 2 4 23
C HAYES F 24:16 2-3 0-0 1 4 5 1 3 0 1 4
S BATTIER F 30:39 3-5 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 9
Y MING C 38:27 5-10 5-6 0 6 6 1 1 0 3 15
B WELLS 22:20 5-10 0-0 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 12
L SCOLA 17:54 1-3 0-0 0 5 5 3 5 0 0 2
M JAMES 16:40 1-6 2-2 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 4
L HEAD 11:11 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2
C LANDRY 10:24 1-6 0-0 5 2 7 1 5 1 1 2
D MUTOMBO DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K SNYDER DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 28-70 17-24 8 27 35 15 20 5 13 80
(.400) (.708) TEAM REBS: 12 TOTAL TO: 15 (24 PTS)

TORONTO

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

T FORD G 23:31 1-9 1-2 0 1 1 4 0 2 3 3
A PARKER G 25:12 5-8 0-0 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 11
C BOSH F 41:40 7-17 7-9 3 7 10 3 2 2 0 21
J MOON F 19:18 2-7 0-0 3 1 4 1 3 0 0 4
R NESTEROVIC C 30:00 4-11 1-2 3 4 7 1 3 1 0 9
J CALDERON 23:25 3-6 1-1 0 3 3 6 0 1 0 7
K HUMPHRIES 23:20 6-9 4-5 4 5 9 0 3 0 2 16
C DELFINO 22:56 3-9 4-4 3 5 8 2 5 1 2 12
J KAPONO 21:44 5-7 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 0 3 10
J GRAHAM 6:50 0-2 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0
J DIXON 1:04 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
M BASTON 1:00 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 36-86 18-23 18 30 48 23 19 7 10 93
(.419) (.783) TEAM REBS: 9 TOTAL TO: 10 (14 PTS)

HOUSTON 22 23 11 24 - 80
TORONTO 16 18 28 31 - 93

BLOCKED SHOTS: HOUSTON - Y MING 3, S FRANCIS, S BATTIER, C LANDRY,
C HAYES. TORONTO - C BOSH 4, J MOON 2, R NESTEROVIC.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: HOUSTON 7-19 (.368), S FRANCIS 1-2, T MCGRADY 1-
6, S BATTIER 3-5, B WELLS 2-3, L SCOLA 0-1, M JAMES 0-2. TORONTO 3-
9 (.333), A PARKER 1-1, J MOON 0-1, C DELFINO 2-5, J KAPONO 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: HOUSTON - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: HOUSTON 1 (S FRANCIS, 4:39 4TH).
OFFICIALS: BENNETT SALVATORE, LEON WOOD, MARK LINDSEY.
A - 19,800. T - 2:14.</div>

 

NBA: HOUSTON at TORONTO

<div class="pre">HOUSTON (80)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
S Francis 31:20 2-4 2-6 0-4 3 2 7
T McGrady 36:49 7-21 8-10 0-4 3 2 23
C Hayes 24:16 2-3 0-0 1-5 1 3 4
S Battier 30:39 3-5 0-0 1-1 0 0 9
Y Ming 38:27 5-10 5-6 0-6 1 1 15
B Wells 22:20 5-10 0-0 1-3 0 0 12
L Scola 17:54 1-3 0-0 0-5 3 5 2
M James 16:40 1-6 2-2 0-0 3 2 4
L Head 11:11 1-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
C Landry 10:24 1-6 0-0 5-7 1 5 2
D Mutombo DNP - COACH'S DECISION
K Snyder DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-70 17-24 8-35 15 20 80
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.400, FT-.708. 3-Point Goals:
7-19, .368 (S Francis 1-2, T McGrady 1-6, S
Battier 3-5, B Wells 2-3, L Scola 0-1, M
James 0-2). Team Rebounds: 12. Blocked
Shots:7 (Y Ming 3, S Francis, S Battier, C
Landry, C Hayes). Turnovers:13 (T McGrady 4,
Y Ming 3, S Francis 2, S Battier, C Landry, M
James, C Hayes). Steals: 5 (T McGrady 2, B
Wells, L Head, C Landry).


TORONTO (93)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Ford 23:31 1-9 1-2 0-1 4 0 3
A Parker 25:12 5-8 0-0 1-3 3 0 11
C Bosh 41:40 7-17 7-9 3-10 3 2 21
J Moon 19:18 2-7 0-0 3-4 1 3 4
R Nesterovic 30:00 4-11 1-2 3-7 1 3 9
J Calderon 23:25 3-6 1-1 0-3 6 0 7
K Humphries 23:20 6-9 4-5 4-9 0 3 16
C Delfino 22:56 3-9 4-4 3-8 2 5 12
J Kapono 21:44 5-7 0-0 0-1 3 2 10
J Graham 6:50 0-2 0-0 1-2 0 0 0
J Dixon 1:04 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
M Baston 1:00 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-86 18-23 18-48 23 19 93
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.419, FT-.783. 3-Point Goals:
3-9, .333 (A Parker 1-1, J Moon 0-1, C
Delfino 2-5, J Kapono 0-2). Team Rebounds: 9.
Blocked Shots:7 (C Bosh 4, J Moon 2, R
Nesterovic). Turnovers:10 (J Kapono 3, T Ford
3, C Delfino 2, K Humphries 2). Steals: 7 (T
Ford 2, C Bosh 2, R Nesterovic, C Delfino, J
Calderon).

-------------------------------------------
HOUSTON 22 23 11 24 - 80
TORONTO 16 18 28 31 - 93
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Houston - 1 (Defensive
Three, 9:52 4th).
Flagrant fouls: Houston 1 (S Francis, 4:39
4th). A: 19,800. T: 2:14. Officials: Bennett
Salvatore, Leon Wood, Mark Lindsey.</div>

 

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Chris Bosh returned to spark the slumpingToronto Raptors.


Bosh scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half as theRaptors overcame a sluggish start Sunday afternoon to defeat theHouston Rockets, 93-80.


It was an impressive victory for Toronto, which had been playingwithout Bosh and fellow injured forward Andrea Bargnani.

Although Bargnani missed his fourth straight game with a kneeinjury, Bosh returned from a five-game absence to lead theRaptors, who erased a 16-2 first-quarter deficit.


"The thing I love about this team is we stay with it, no matterwhat happens," Bosh said. "We continue to play defense."

"I thought with Chris Bosh, just his presence just opened thingsup," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell added.


A two-time All-Star, Bosh had been sidelined with a groininjury. But the talented big man certainly looked healthy inthis one, shooting 7-of-17 from the floor while finishing with10 rebounds and four blocks.


Bosh capped his afternoon with a free throw to make it 91-76with 1:04 remaining. The 23-year-old exited to a standingovation from the appreciative fans at Air Canada Centre.

"I wanted to come back when the time was right," Bosh said. "Itwas a big game at home. I just wanted to come out and give ita go."


Reserve Kris Humphries collected 16 points and nine reboundswhile Rasho Nesterovic spearheaded a terrific defensive effortagainst Rockets All-Star center Yao Ming, who finished with just15 points.


"Yao is Yao," Humphries said. "For us, we just want to try tobe aggressive and take him out of what he is doing. It's atough assignment."


Carlos Delfino scored 12 points off the bench, Anthony Parkerchipped in 11 and reserve Jason Kapono added 10 for Toronto,which has won five of its last six home games to improve to 7-5here this season.


"We had a very good home record last year," Bosh said. "I thinkwe can do a repeat of the same thing. I think today was astart."


After rallying from their 14-point deficit to claw within 45-34at halftime, the Raptors dominated the pivotal third quarter,outscoring the Rockets by a 28-11 margin.


Houston made just 4-of-16 shots in the third quarter en route totheir lowest scoring total in a single period this year.

"We just stopped moving the ball," Rockets coach Rick Adelmansaid. "We started missing shots and got even more stagnant."

Tracy McGrady, who began his stellar NBA career with theRaptors, scored 23 points on just 7-of-21 shooting for Houston,which has lost four of its last five meetings with Toronto.

"They did a good job of doubling both on Tracy and Yao," Adelmansaid. "We really didn't have an answer for it."


Houston shot just 28-of-70 (40 percent) from the floor,including 7-of-19 from the arc, and were outrebounded by amargin of 48-35.


Bonzi Wells scored 12 points off the bench for the Rockets, whohave lost nine of their last 14 games after starting the seasonwith a 6-1 mark.


"The way we played in the second half is the way they played inthe first half," said McGrady, who spent his first three seasonsin Toronto before signing with the Orlando Magic prior to the2000-01 campaign.


"We had energy in the first half, they didn't. When the gamereally mattered, they had a lot more energy than we did."