<font size=""4"">Raptors snap 15-game losing streak to Bulls</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Chris Bosh sank a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining as the visiting Toronto Raptors pulled out a 112-111 victory over the Chicago Bulls before a crowd of 21,776 at the United Center on Tuesday. Toronto had lost its last 15 meetings with Chicago, dating back to Dec. 6, 2002.</div> <font size=""4"">Big win, that's no bull</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors were like the Starship Enterprise last night, boldly going where no Toronto team had gone before. At least not since Dec. 6, 2002. That was the previous time Toronto had recorded a win against Chicago before embarking on a 15-game losing streak. Last night, on the strength of big games by Chris Bosh, who sunk two free throws with 2.1 seconds left for the win, and Jose Calderon, the Raptors finally broke that streak, holding on for a 112-111 victory at the United Center -- although the outcome was in doubt until the last few seconds. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Make it," said Bosh, when asked what was going through his mind when he stepped up to the charity stripe. "That's all -- make it. I was talking to T.J. a couple of days ago, and we were talking about game-winning free throws. He asked if I think about it, and I said, 'No, I just shoot.' And he said, 'Man, think about it.' So I thought about making it and I stepped up and I made it." </div> <font size=""4"">Ely traded to Spurs</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The San Antonio Spurs traded forward Eric Williams and a draft pick to the Charlotte Bobcats for forward-centre Melvin Ely in an exchange of veteran backups. </div> <font size=""4"">Tonight is a must-win</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Both clubs played last night, the Raptors in Chicago and New Jersey playing host to the San Antonio Spurs. The Raptors, however, will catch a major break as the Nets' star point guard, Jason Kidd, is experiencing back pain and will not play. New Jersey already is without starters Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">THE BRAZILIAN BRUISER Late in the game, with his Jazz well ahead, Araujo was slapped with a flagrant-2 foul, after his left arm connected with the face of Marvin Williams as the Atlanta small forward made a move to the basket, bloodying Williams' nose. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"He (Araujo) should have been kicked out of the game -- and he should be suspended," added Atlanta coach Mike Woodson. </div> <font size=""4"">Raptors end jinx vs. Bulls</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Bosh's foul shots, after he'd been whacked grabbing the rebound of a blocked Ford layup, lifted Toronto to a 112-111 victory at the United Center that exorcised some demons that had been dogging the Raptors since December 2002. "I think it just shows how this team has turned around," Bosh said as the Raptors snapped a streak of 15 straight losses to the Bulls. "Despite the breakdowns at the end, we stood strong and still got out of here with the win." Those breakdowns were horrific and almost cost Toronto the game.</div> <font size=""4"">Nets at Raptors</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">This one's going to test the mental toughness of each team. New Jersey played last night against San Antonio and won't have Jason Kidd; the Raptors were in Chicago. Whichever one can handle those things and not be checking out for the all-star break a night early will prevail. ... Marcus Williams was exceptional as a fill-in for Kidd in New Jersey's last game, turning a two-point deficit into a 12-point lead in the second half.</div> <font size=""4"">Bosh proves bullish to the end</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Raptors, winners of nine of their last 11, went ahead by eight points early in the fourth quarter when Jose Calderon converted a three-point play and moments later fed Bosh for a basket that made it 94-86. Finding holes in the Chicago defense, Calderon made three straight Toronto baskets to increase the margin to 12 with about 6 minutes remaining.</div> <font size=""4"">Houston: Viewers' affair with Raptors warming up</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After a chilly start, the relationship between the Toronto Raptors and sports viewers is beginning to warm up. First in the National Basketball Association's Atlantic Division and brandishing an 8-2 record in their past 10 games (before Tuesday night), the Raptors are enjoying, after a long wait, some success on television. TSN is averaging 142,000 viewers a game for its telecasts, up 16 per cent from last season. The Score's viewership has jumped 29 per cent to 99,000. Ten days ago, Raptors NBA TV, the club-owned service, pulled in 74,000 for the team's win over the Atlanta Hawks. That was 300 per cent above the digital channel's audience projection.</div> <font size=""4"">KIDD OUT TONIGHT</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The perennial triple-double threat was held out of the Nets' game last night against the San Antonio Spurs and won't play against the Raptors because of a sore lower back, the National Basketball Association team announced yesterday. Kidd may also miss the NBA all-star game in Las Vegas, where he was added to the Eastern Conference team as a reserve. "We are taking it day by day," Kidd said in a statement issued before the Nets' 107-82 loss to the Spurs. "I have not made a final decision at this time."</div> <font size=""4"">Bosh bails out Raptors</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The collapse was surprising considering the Raptors' poise throughout the game. The only other bit of turbulence was in the third quarter, when Bosh briefly left the game with an ankle injury and Chicago took its first lead of the game. But Jorge Garbajosa kept the Raptors afloat in the quarter, hitting a pair of three-pointers. An unconventional four-point play -- a Bosh layup, plus a foul and a technical foul -- helped Toronto bump its lead to 87-82, despite three straight layups from Chicago's Kirk Hinrich.</div> <font size=""4"">Big comeback, foul conclusion</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Two calls--one made for Toronto, one not made for the Bulls--and a clock discrepancy left the Bulls hopping mad for reasons beyond seeing their 15-game winning streak over the Raptors snapped after the 112-111 heartbreaker.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Official Greg Willard made the call after Bosh's shot fell off the rim, and his whistle failed to stop the clock, as is standard practice. Coach Scott Skiles pleaded his case to fellow official Jason Phillips for more time--at least a half-second ticked off--to no avail. The Bulls plan to send film of the discrepancy to the league office.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Not only did Skiles disagree that Gordon should have been awarded free throws, he applauded the call--if not the clock discrepancy--on Thomas' foul on Bosh. "I like the fact that call was made if it's a foul," Skiles said. "And I thought it was. Too many times guys hold the whistle at that point. Why have the game be 48 minutes long then?"</div> <font size=""4"">Toronto writes different ending</font> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Toronto, which has won 11 of 14, had monster games from Chris Bosh and No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani. Bosh finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, while Bargnani missed his season-high by one point with 22. Luol Deng's 30 points led the Bulls.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't look now, but the Bulls lead the Raptors by only half a game in the conference standings.</div> <div align="center"><font size=""5""><u>Sunshine Girl - 2/14/07</u></font> </div>
