The Toronto Raptors came to the IZOD Center to take on the NJ Nets. When I was getting ready to go inside the arena I found out via a text message from Rich Wolber aka Staten Island Rich that Chris Bosh, the Raptors star player wasn't playing due to a mild ankle sprain. It was the first game he missed this season. Needless to say, I was disappointed to hear that.
Despite his absence, the Raptors came to play as a team. After a slow start to the season, the Raptors appear to headed to the playoffs.
As for Chris Bosh, he's an unrestricted free agent so he may be playing elsewhere next season as well. For the time being, the Raptors had business to attend to temporarily without Bosh.
Here's how the game turned out:
The Nets, owners of the league's worst record at 5-49 were hoping to win for the second time in 3 games.
They started off taking a brief 9-5 lead but that was short lived as the Raptors had the lead the rest of the night. Antoine Wright, a former Net, beat the buzzer with a bucket that he banked off the glass to end the first quarter to extend the Raptor lead to 32-21.
The Raptors added to their lead at the half, 56-41.
Early in the third quarter the Raptors extended their lead to 20, 61-41. The Nets came charging back as they got within 6 points with a minute and a half to go in the 3rd quarter but the Raptors wouldn't let them get any closer.They started reeling off 9 straight points that carried over into the 4th quarter. Most notably was the 3 pointer that beat the buzzer again. This time Jose Calderon did the honors to give the Raptors a 82-71 advantage after 3.
In the 4th quarter they extended that lead to 15 early. They wound up winning the game by 17 in all, 106-89!
Jarrett Jack led 7 Raptors in double figures with 18 points to go along with 10 assists. Rasho Nesterovic added 16 points in place of the injured Chris Bosh.
As for the Nets, Brook Lopez lead all scorers with 22 points. Devin Harris added 19 and Courtney Lee finished with 17 in the losing effort. The lowly Nets lost their 50th game in 55 tries.
Sunday they take on the Memphis Gizzlies at 6PM. I'll be in attendance once again so you check back for the recap.
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