Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons Mar.26/08

In the final few minutes with the game on the line, T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon were together on the court helping the Toronto Raptors secure a victory.

The Raptors pride themselves on their two point guards and how well they work together, and Wednesday was a prime example.

Hoping to turn around Toronto's sagging season, Calderon stepped aside to give up his spot in the starting lineup to Ford, and the Raptors went on to beat the Detroit Pistons 89-82 for just their second victory in their last nine games.

``It was like old times, when those two came in and that's been one of the strengths of our basketball team,'' Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. ``We're hoping that that becomes a strength again of our team, both of those guys, because they're different in how they play.''

Chris Bosh scored 21 points to top Toronto (36-35), while Rasho Nesterovic added 15 points and nine rebounds. Ford finished with 13 points and nine assists in his first start since Dec. 11, while Calderon had 13 points off the bench. Carlos Delfino chipped in with 10 points.

Chauncey Billups had 24 points to lead the Pistons (50-21), who were playing without Richard Hamilton (sore left hip).

Neither team led by more than five points in the first half in what may have been a sneak peak at the first round of the playoffs _ if the season ended Wednesday, the Raptors would battle Detroit in the opening round.

A spectacular alley-oop dunk by Jamario Moon with three minutes left in the third sparked a Raptors surge, and with Bosh contributing eight points in the final 2:20 of the quarter, Toronto was up 61-51 heading into the fourth.

A three by Bargnani capped a 7-0 run to open the final quarter as the Raptors stretched their lead to a game-high 17 points. A pair of threes by Billups helped Detroit cut Toronto's lead to just five points with just under three minutes to play, but the Raptors weren't giving this one away, as Bosh scored a pair of baskets down the stretch to seal the victory for Toronto.

Looking to put an end to the team's recent woes, Calderon approached the Raptors coaches about changing up the starting lineup. Mitchell was reluctant at first, but the team had lost seven of its eight previous games heading into Wednesday and had fallen to seventh in the Eastern Conference, so the coach finally relented Wednesday.

``I went to him because I think we needed to change something because something wasn't working, so I think it's a team thing,'' Calderon said. ``We needed something, we didn't know exactly what was going on.''

Calderon started the 48 games since Ford injured his neck crashing to the court Dec. 11 in Atlanta. Ford missed 24 games, and then came off the bench for 24 games.

``I think that's big for us, we need more guys like (Calderon),'' Bosh said. ``Both him and T.J. have been very unselfish with their starting positions and they want what's best for the team. I think it showed tonight with Jose making a move like that, it says a lot about his character, I don't think a lot of other players would do that.''

Ford said the Raptors are at their best when the two guards are playing well together.

``It worked out great for us, in a stretch where we both were playing well,'' he said. ``I think whenever you have both of us on the court it's a big factor because I'm more of a penetrator, and with his shooting ability he's a big threat. It worked out in our favour.''

Mitchell hopes that Calderon can help get the Raptors' bench playing well again.

``Early in the season they were an important part of what we were doing to win games,'' Mitchell said.

Nesterovic started in place of Bargnani and wound up playing a solid 46 minutes a team-high.

``New looks, new mix of players and it worked today,'' Nesterovic said. ``We hope it will work for the rest of the season.''

The Raptors shot 49 per cent on Wednesday, while the Pistons connected on 41 per cent of their shots. Detroit outrebounded Toronto 41-35.

``Both teams struggled to get it going in the first half,'' said Billups. ``We couldn't do it, we couldn't get over the hump.''

Bosh led the way with seven points in the first quarter, and a jumper by Nesterovic put the Raptors up by four points. But they couldn't put any distance on Detroit, and the Pistons led 20-19 heading into the second.

A three by Delfino early in the second capped a 12-4 Raptors run that put them up 29-24. But the Pistons held Toronto to just two points in almost six minutes, and took a 35-33 advantage into the dressing room at halftime.

The Raptors outscored the Pistons 16-8 in the third, and ended the quarter on a 16-8 run to take a 61-51 lead into the fourth.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Toronto
• Raptors
• vs
• Detroit
• Pistons
• Mar.26/08

[carlogiove63]

Ciao molto bello!!!!!!!!

sono stato l'anno scorso a toronto per alcune serate.

5 stars carlo giove cantautore italiano

[rcarter105]

moooooooooooooon!

[MV33vidz]

WHERES MOONS DUNK!

[JWalk]

lol too bad the hornets won...

[sky545]

i knoww wobbles to the rim uncordinated but he can drive

[billups33622321]

mo pete is going to cry when he lose to raptors

[karachisai]

apalo 33 jamarioooooo mooooooon!!!!!! tht was sikk wikid n nasty

[vlado22]

every time bargnani drives he looks like hes falling lol

[Rsd79]

Since it is a home game, I would be surprised if they lose to the Knicks.

[billups33622321]

ya, obviously you actually think raptors are that bd thier going to the second round year even if they face the pistons