GAME THREAD: NBA: TORONTO (11-10) at ATLANTA (10-10)

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA TORONTO 77
ATLANTA 69 8:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA TORONTO 87
ATLANTA 77 5:57 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA TORONTO 90
ATLANTA 84 2:48 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA TORONTO 96
ATLANTA 86 0:58 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA TORONTO 100
ATLANTA 88 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TORONTO 19 35 15 31 100
ATLANTA 21 22 25 20 88 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: TOR - T.J. FORD 26, CHRIS BOSH 20, JOSE
CALDERON 16
ATL - ANTHONY JOHNSON 23, MARVIN WILLIAMS 23,
JOSH CHILDRESS 13</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
TORONTO 100
ATLANTA 88 FINAL</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (100) AT ATLANTA (88)

TORONTO

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

T FORD G 29:30 11-15 4-6 0 2 2 8 1 1 2 26
A PARKER G 34:50 3-8 3-3 0 6 6 2 1 1 0 12
C BOSH F 37:41 8-17 4-4 1 12 13 3 1 1 2 20
J MOON F 34:52 4-8 1-2 0 4 4 1 4 0 0 9
R NESTEROVIC C 24:52 1-6 0-0 2 4 6 0 3 0 2 2
K HUMPHRIES 19:34 2-7 1-2 3 2 5 1 1 1 0 5
J CALDERON 18:30 5-6 4-4 0 2 2 7 2 0 1 15
C DELFINO 15:19 1-6 0-2 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 3
A BARGNANI 12:21 0-4 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 1 0
J GRAHAM 6:08 1-2 2-2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 4
J KAPONO 4:51 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
J DIXON 1:32 0-0 4-4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 36-80 23-29 8 36 44 22 16 4 9 100
(.450) (.793) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 9 (0 PTS)

ATLANTA

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

A JOHNSON G 24:24 2-7 2-2 0 4 4 5 2 2 0 6
J JOHNSON G 34:58 7-18 4-4 1 3 4 5 1 0 1 23
J SMITH F 28:08 2-11 1-2 2 6 8 3 6 1 7 5
M WILLIAMS F 34:09 8-15 7-8 0 6 6 1 1 0 1 23
A HOFORD C 40:54 4-10 2-2 5 5 10 2 3 0 2 10
J CHILDRESS 28:43 5-7 3-4 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 13
S WILLIAMS 25:26 2-6 2-4 3 6 9 3 2 1 0 6
S STOUDAMIRE 1:32 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A LAW 21:44 1-5 0-0 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 2
M WEST 0:02 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

TOTALS 240:00 31-80 21-26 13 33 46 26 17 4 11 88
(.388) (.808) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (0 PTS)

TORONTO 19 35 15 31 - 100
ATLANTA 21 22 25 20 - 88

BLOCKED SHOTS: TORONTO - R NESTEROVIC, J MOON, C BOSH. ATLANTA - J SMITH 2,
A HOFORD 2, S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: TORONTO 5-11 (.455), A PARKER 3-4, K HUMPHRIES 0-
1, J CALDERON 1-1, C DELFINO 1-5. ATLANTA 5-10 (.500), J JOHNSON 5-
8, J SMITH 0-1, A LAW 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: ATLANTA 1 (A HOFORD, 1:31 4TH).
OFFICIALS: COURTNEY KIRKLAND, JOE DEROSA, TOMMY NUNEZ.
A - N/A. T - 2:16.</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Ford 29:30 11-15 4-6 0-2 8 1 26
A Parker 34:50 3-8 3-3 0-6 2 1 12
C Bosh 37:41 8-17 4-4 1-13 3 1 20
J Moon 34:52 4-8 1-2 0-4 1 4 9
R Nesterovic 24:52 1-6 0-0 2-6 0 3 2
K Humphries 19:34 2-7 1-2 3-5 1 1 5
J Calderon 18:30 5-6 4-4 0-2 7 2 15
C Delfino 15:19 1-6 0-2 0-2 0 0 3
A Bargnani 12:21 0-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
J Graham 6:08 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 0 4
J Kapono 4:51 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
J Dixon 1:32 0-0 4-4 0-0 0 0 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-80 23-29 8-44 22 16 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.450, FT-.793. 3-Point Goals:
5-11, .455 (A Parker 3-4, K Humphries 0-1, J
Calderon 1-1, C Delfino 1-5). Team Rebounds:
6. Blocked Shots:3 (R Nesterovic, J Moon, C
Bosh). Turnovers:9 (R Nesterovic 2, T Ford 2,
C Bosh 2, J Calderon, C Delfino, A Bargnani).
Steals: 4 (T Ford, C Bosh, K Humphries, A
Parker).


ATLANTA (88)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 24:24 2-7 2-2 0-4 5 2 6
J Johnson 34:58 7-18 4-4 1-4 5 1 23
J Smith 28:08 2-11 1-2 2-8 3 6 5
M Williams 34:09 8-15 7-8 0-6 1 1 23
A Hoford 40:54 4-10 2-2 5-10 2 3 10
J Childress 28:43 5-7 3-4 2-4 1 0 13
S Williams 25:26 2-6 2-4 3-9 3 2 6
S Stoudamire 1:32 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
A Law 21:44 1-5 0-0 0-1 6 2 2
M West 0:02 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-80 21-26 13-46 26 17 88
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.388, FT-.808. 3-Point Goals:
5-10, .500 (J Johnson 5-8, J Smith 0-1, A Law
0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:5 (J
Smith 2, A Hoford 2, S Williams).
Turnovers:11 (J Smith 7, A Hoford 2, J
Johnson, M Williams). Steals: 4 (A Johnson 2,
S Williams, J Smith).

--------------------------------------------
TORONTO 19 35 15 31 - 100
ATLANTA 21 22 25 20 - 88
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: Atlanta 1 (A Hoford, 1:31
4th). A: N/A. T: 2:16. Officials: Courtney
Kirkland, Joe Derosa, Tommy Nunez.</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- T.J. Ford denied the Atlanta Hawks a chanceto go over the .500 mark. But his stellar game was marred by aserious injury.


Before getting taken off in a stretcher in the final minutes,Ford scored 26 points and Chris Bosh added 20 and 13 rebounds tolead the Toronto Raptors to a 100-88 victory over the resurgentHawks on Tuesday.


Jose Calderon chipped in 15 points and Anthony Parker scored 12,nailing three 3-pointers, for the Raptors, who have won twostraight.


However, their stellar play was overshadowed by an ugly injuryto Ford, who was carted off after Hawks rookie forward AlHorford nailed him in the head - snapping his neck back.

It all happened when Ford picked Atlanta guard Joe Johnson'spocket and went down the court for the fast-break layup.

Horford met Ford, who has a history of neck and spinal injuries,behind the bucket and struck Ford with a forearm to hisforehead, sending the point guard to the floor.


He landed on his left arm and laid motionless on the court whileHorford was whistled for a flagrant-2 foul and ejected.

It all came after a great game for Ford, who tallied eight ofhis 19 first-half points in a 26-7 run to close out the half.Ford capped the scoring with a pretty finger roll layup with1.9 seconds remaining in the half to give the Raptors a 54-43lead.


The Hawks' defense could not stop Ford or Bosh, who victimizedAtlanta all night.


Bosh connected on two free throws and Ford hit an acrobaticjumper from behind the basket on the right sideline to helpthwart Atlanta's 8-2 run to start the third quarter.

The 6-foot Ford connected on 11-of-15 shots from the field anddished seven assists, while Bosh, who played collegiate ball afew miles down the road at Georgia Tech, was 8-of-17 from thefield.


The Hawks cut their deficit to 69-68 on Acie Law IV's jumper astime expired in the third quarter, but the Raptors scored 13 ofthe first 16 points of the fourth quarter to put the game way.

The Hawks (10-11) were soaring entering this one, winning sevenout of their last 10 games to get to the .500 mark for the firsttime this season.


It was the latest in the season that the club, which has beenthe poster child for futility this side of the millennium, hadbeen over that mark since Atlanta made its last playoffappearance following the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season.

And for a quarter and a half, it looked like things were goingto go the Hawks' way.


With the clock winding down in the opening period, Law uncorkeda wild pass that missed its intended recipient. But the balltrickled to Marvin Williams, on the left sideline.

The 21-year-old Williams then buried a 22-foot jumper a fewsteps from the Hawks' bench at the buzzer to give Atlanta a 21-19lead.


Atlanta built its advantage to as many as seven, taking a 35-28lead on Horford's jump shot with 6:56 remaining. But fromthere, Bosh and Ford took control.


The Hawks were unable to overcome a poor shooting night fromreigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Josh Smith, whofinished with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. He fouledout with 2:45 remaining.


Josh Childress scored 13 points for Atlanta after missing thelast two games with a sore right groin.


Andrea Bargnani collected two rebounds in 12 minutes in hisreturn for Toronto after missing the last four games with ahyper-extended left knee.


Williams and Joe Johnson scored 23 points apiece for the Hawks,who snapped a three-game winning streak.

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (100) AT ATLANTA (88)

TORONTO

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

T FORD G 29:30 11-15 4-6 0 2 2 8 1 1 2 26
A PARKER G 34:50 3-8 3-3 0 6 6 2 1 1 0 12
C BOSH F 37:41 8-17 4-4 1 12 13 3 1 1 2 20
J MOON F 34:52 4-8 1-2 0 4 4 1 4 0 0 9
R NESTEROVIC C 24:52 1-6 0-0 2 4 6 0 3 0 2 2
K HUMPHRIES 19:34 2-7 1-2 3 2 5 1 1 1 0 5
J CALDERON 18:30 5-6 4-4 0 2 2 7 2 0 1 15
C DELFINO 15:19 1-6 0-2 0 2 2 0 0 0 1 3
A BARGNANI 12:21 0-4 0-0 1 1 2 0 2 0 1 0
J GRAHAM 6:08 1-2 2-2 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 4
J KAPONO 4:51 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
J DIXON 1:32 0-0 4-4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 4

TOTALS 240:00 36-80 23-29 8 36 44 22 17 4 9 100
(.450) (.793) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 9 (13 PTS)

ATLANTA

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

A JOHNSON G 24:24 2-7 2-2 0 4 4 5 2 2 0 6
J JOHNSON G 34:58 7-18 4-4 1 3 4 5 1 0 1 23
J SMITH F 28:08 2-11 1-2 2 6 8 3 6 1 7 5
M WILLIAMS F 34:09 8-15 7-8 0 6 6 1 1 0 1 23
A HOFORD C 40:54 4-10 2-2 5 5 10 2 3 0 2 10
J CHILDRESS 28:43 5-7 3-4 2 2 4 1 0 0 0 13
S WILLIAMS 25:26 2-6 2-4 3 6 9 3 2 1 0 6
S STOUDAMIRE 1:32 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
A LAW 21:44 1-5 0-0 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 2
M WEST 0:02 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
L WRIGHT DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S JONES DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 31-80 21-26 13 33 46 26 18 4 11 88
(.388) (.808) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 12 (17 PTS)

TORONTO 19 35 15 31 - 100
ATLANTA 21 22 25 20 - 88

BLOCKED SHOTS: TORONTO - R NESTEROVIC, J MOON, C BOSH. ATLANTA - J SMITH 2,
A HOFORD 2, S WILLIAMS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: TORONTO 5-11 (.455), A PARKER 3-4, K HUMPHRIES 0-
1, J CALDERON 1-1, C DELFINO 1-5. ATLANTA 5-10 (.500), J JOHNSON 5-
8, J SMITH 0-1, A LAW 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: ATLANTA 1 (A HOFORD, 1:32 4TH).
OFFICIALS: COURTNEY KIRKLAND, JOE DEROSA, TOMMY NUNEZ.
A - 13,173. T - 2:17.</div>

 

NBA: TORONTO at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">TORONTO (100)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
T Ford 29:30 11-15 4-6 0-2 8 1 26
A Parker 34:50 3-8 3-3 0-6 2 1 12
C Bosh 37:41 8-17 4-4 1-13 3 1 20
J Moon 34:52 4-8 1-2 0-4 1 4 9
R Nesterovic 24:52 1-6 0-0 2-6 0 3 2
K Humphries 19:34 2-7 1-2 3-5 1 1 5
J Calderon 18:30 5-6 4-4 0-2 7 2 15
C Delfino 15:19 1-6 0-2 0-2 0 0 3
A Bargnani 12:21 0-4 0-0 1-2 0 2 0
J Graham 6:08 1-2 2-2 1-2 0 0 4
J Kapono 4:51 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
J Dixon 1:32 0-0 4-4 0-0 0 1 4

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-80 23-29 8-44 22 17 100
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.450, FT-.793. 3-Point Goals:
5-11, .455 (A Parker 3-4, K Humphries 0-1, J
Calderon 1-1, C Delfino 1-5). Team Rebounds:
6. Blocked Shots:3 (R Nesterovic, J Moon, C
Bosh). Turnovers:9 (R Nesterovic 2, T Ford 2,
C Bosh 2, J Calderon, C Delfino, A Bargnani).
Steals: 4 (T Ford, C Bosh, K Humphries, A
Parker).


ATLANTA (88)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
A Johnson 24:24 2-7 2-2 0-4 5 2 6
J Johnson 34:58 7-18 4-4 1-4 5 1 23
J Smith 28:08 2-11 1-2 2-8 3 6 5
M Williams 34:09 8-15 7-8 0-6 1 1 23
A Hoford 40:54 4-10 2-2 5-10 2 3 10
J Childress 28:43 5-7 3-4 2-4 1 0 13
S Williams 25:26 2-6 2-4 3-9 3 2 6
S Stoudamire 1:32 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 0
A Law 21:44 1-5 0-0 0-1 6 2 2
M West 0:02 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
L Wright DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Jones DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 31-80 21-26 13-46 26 18 88
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.388, FT-.808. 3-Point Goals:
5-10, .500 (J Johnson 5-8, J Smith 0-1, A Law
0-1). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:5 (J
Smith 2, A Hoford 2, S Williams).
Turnovers:11 (J Smith 7, A Hoford 2, J
Johnson, M Williams). Steals: 4 (A Johnson 2,
S Williams, J Smith).

--------------------------------------------
TORONTO 19 35 15 31 - 100
ATLANTA 21 22 25 20 - 88
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: Atlanta 1 (A Hoford, 1:32
4th). A: 13,173. T: 2:17. Officials: Courtney
Kirkland, Joe Derosa, Tommy Nunez.</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- T.J. Ford denied the Atlanta Hawks a chanceto go over the .500 mark. But his stellar game was marred by aserious injury.


Before getting taken off in a stretcher in the final minutes,Ford scored 26 points and Chris Bosh added 20 and 13 rebounds tolead the Toronto Raptors to a 100-88 victory over the resurgentHawks on Tuesday.


Jose Calderon chipped in 15 points and Anthony Parker scored 12,nailing three 3-pointers, for the Raptors, who have won twostraight.


However, their stellar play was overshadowed by an ugly injuryto Ford, who was carted off after Hawks rookie forward AlHorford nailed him in the head - snapping his neck back.

It all happened when Ford picked Atlanta guard Joe Johnson'spocket and went down the court for the fast-break layup.

Horford met Ford, who has a history of neck and spinal injuries,behind the bucket and struck Ford with a forearm to hisforehead, sending the point guard to the floor.


He landed on his left arm as his neck came crashing to the floorand laid motionless on the court while Horford was whistled fora flagrant-2 foul and ejected.


"I just tried to go and block the shot," Horford said. "When hewent up, I went up to try to block it. He made a good move andit kind of fooled me. I really thought he was going to lay itup on one side and it he went up on the other side."

"It was frightening to see T.J. go down," Bosh said. "I had apretty good view, and it was one of those plays where he got hithard and he hit his head on the way down. We just hope he'sOK."


Bosh and some of his teammates didn't think the foul wasintentional.


"T.J. went to the basket under control and, unfortunately, Aljust mistimed (the block)," Bosh said. "I don't think he meantto do it on purpose. He was just making a basketball play."

"I definitely don't think it's intentional," Parker added."But, it's just one of those things where you think, 'Why?' Aminute and a half left in a game, maybe you let the guy (score).It was a great move. (Ford) changed his hands and went forthe reverse layup."


According to Raptors media director Jim LaBumbard, Ford, whomissed the final 26 games of the 2003-04 season and the entire2004-2005 campaign after undergoing neck surgery for a bruisedspinal cord, had feeling in both his lower and upperextremities.


He was taken to Piedmont Hospital for further evaluation, wherehe is expected to stay overnight while the club travels back toToronto to face the Dallas Mavericks.


"Our thoughts are with (Ford, the person) first - not T.J. thebasketball player," Parker said. "It's tough. It makes you notwant to play anymore after that."


It all came after a great game for Ford, who tallied eight ofhis 19 first-half points in a 26-7 run to close out the half.Ford capped the scoring with a pretty finger roll layup with 1.9seconds remaining in the half to give the Raptors a 54-43 lead.

Prior to his injury the Hawks' defense could not stop Ford, whovictimized Atlanta all night.


Bosh connected on two free throws and Ford hit an acrobaticjumper from behind the basket on the right sideline to helpthwart Atlanta's 8-2 run to start the third quarter.

"I don't think we were playing our coverages correctly, and hetook advantage of it," Hawks forward Marvin Williams said. "Hedidn't miss but three or four shots all night. He obviously hada great game."


The 6-foot Ford connected on 11-of-15 shots from the field anddished eight assists, while Bosh, who played collegiate ball afew miles down the road at Georgia Tech, was 8-of-17 from thefield.


"T.J. was probably having his best game of the season," Boshsaid. "We just hate to see him go down like that."

The Hawks cut their deficit to 69-68 on Acie Law IV's jumper astime expired in the third quarter, but the Raptors scored 13 ofthe first 16 points of the fourth quarter to put the game way.

The Hawks (10-11) were soaring entering this one, winning sevenout of their last 10 games to get to the .500 mark for the firsttime this season.


It was the latest in the season that the club, which has beenthe poster child for futility this side of the millennium, hadbeen over that mark since Atlanta made its last playoffappearance following the lockout-shortened 1998-1999 season.

And for a quarter and a half, it looked like things were goingto go the Hawks' way.


With the clock winding down in the opening period, Law uncorkeda wild pass that missed its intended recipient. But the balltrickled to Williams, on the left sideline.


The 21-year-old Williams then buried a 22-foot jumper a fewsteps from the Hawks' bench at the buzzer to give Atlanta a21-19 lead.


Atlanta built its advantage to as many as seven, taking a 35-28lead on Horford's jump shot with 6:56 remaining. But fromthere, Ford took control.


The Hawks were unable to overcome a poor shooting night fromreigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Josh Smith, whofinished with just five points on 2-of-11 shooting. He fouledout with 2:45 remaining.


"That was the key to the game, to keep him in check," Parkersaid. "Josh Smith is great at grabbing rebounds and gettingpoints in transition. We tried to limit his points tonight."

Josh Childress scored 13 points for Atlanta after missing thelast two games with a sore right groin.


Andrea Bargnani collected two rebounds in 12 minutes in hisreturn for Toronto after missing the last four games with ahyper-extended left knee.


Williams and Johnson scored 23 points apiece for the Hawks, whosnapped a three-game winning streak.