honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, January 25, 2010

Raptors slip past Lakers


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Lakers guard Kobe Bryant loses control of the ball in the fourth quarter. Bryant later missed a jumper at the buzzer.

FRANK GUNN | The Canadian Press via AP

spacer spacer

TORONTO — Even Hedo Turkoglu was surprised to find himself heading to the free throw line with a chance to beat the defending NBA champions.

A driving Turkoglu drew a foul from Pau Gasol, then hit both free throws with 1.2 seconds left as the Toronto Raptors beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 106-105, last night.

"I thought I wasn't going to go to the line," Turkoglu said. "Usually I don't rely on that because sometimes you get calls and sometimes you don't. I just tried to take the best shot I could."

Gasol insisted he didn't foul Turkoglu.

"It was a questionable call," Gasol said. "I don't think I pushed him at all. My arm was on his back but I never pushed him. A tough call at a critical part of the game."

Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points, Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack each had 18 and Marco Belinelli added 15 for the Raptors, who have won four of six overall and nine of 10 at home.

"Huge win, not only because it is against the Lakers, but we are continuing to play well at home," said Bosh, who added 13 rebounds for his 32nd double-double of the season.

Kobe Bryant missed a last-second jump shot and fell one assist shy of his first triple-double of the season, scoring 27 points and grabbing a career-high 16 rebounds.

Bryant took an inbound pass from Luke Walton but his fadeaway jumper rimmed out as the Lakers lost for the second time in three games.

"I just wanted to get a good look," Bryant said. "I wanted to raise up, put enough arc on the ball. It felt pretty good, it just came up a little bit short."

Mavericks 128, Knicks 78: Drew Gooden stepped into the lineup with 15 points and 18 rebounds, and visiting Dallas coasted to the biggest win in franchise history while missing two starters — Jason Kidd (family reasons) and Erick Dampier (left knee injury). Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry each scored 20 points as the Mavericks beat the Knicks for the eighth straight time. David Lee had 11 points and 14 rebounds for New York, which lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Clippers 92, Wizards 78: Chris Kaman scored 20 points, Marcus Camby had 12 points and 19 rebounds and Los Angeles (20-23) snapped an eight-game road skid to surpass last season's win total. Antawn Jamison had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Brendan Haywood added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Washington, which has lost three straight.