The hot-shooting Toronto Raptors staged a late rally to stun the
Boston Celtics with a 114-112 road victory on Wednesday, Jose
Calderon delivering a three-point play with 10.5 seconds remaining
to seal the win.
The Raptors were seven points down with 5:06 remaining and came
back to hand the NBA-leading Celtics their first loss in 11 games
against Atlantic Division foes this season.
Calderon scored off a drive and sank a freethrow after drawing a
foul during the play before Boston's Eddie House missed a
three-point attempt as the Celtics went for victory.
The home team grabbed the rebound, but Ray Allen failed on a
two-point attempt that would have sent the game into overtime.
Toronto shot 58 percent from the field but was an impressive
15-for-21 from three-point range, with Carlos Delfino going 5-for-5
and Calderon 3-for-4.
The Raptors also made all 19 free throws they attempted in the
game.
"It was one of those games and we felt like it slipped away from
you... we are kicking ourselves for losing," Allen told
reporters.
"But give them all the credit in the world. They shot the ball
lights out tonight."
Calderon scored 24 points and dished out 13 assists and Chris
Bosh and Anthony Parker both scored 23 points.
Andrea Bargnani had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists
as the Raptors salvaged the fourth and final game of the season
series after losing the first three.
Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and Allen and Paul Pierce both
had 19 for the Celtics, who saw their three-game winning streak end
and their record fall to 33-7.
The San Antonio Spurs got 28 points and 17 rebounds from Tim
Duncan to register a 103-91 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers,
despite 29 points and 12 rebounds by Kobe Bryant.
The last-place Minnesota Timberwolves won their seventh game of
the season and recorded their first two-game winning streak after
upsetting the visiting Phoenix Suns 117-107.
Al Jefferson had 39 points and 15 rebounds for the Wolves, while
Amare Stoudemire scored 33 for the Suns (30-13), who have the
second-best record in the NBA.
The New Orleans Hornets won their sixth consecutive game, with
Jannero Pargo scoring a season-high 24 points in 24 minutes in a
96-81 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Tracy McGrady scored 28 points, including the last eight for his
team in a big surge, and the Houston Rockets scored a 109-107 road
win over the Seattle Supersonics, who lost their 12th straight
game. Yao Ming had 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists for the
Rockets.
(Agencies via China Daily January 25, 2008)