Moments after another big game from his star Chris Bosh, Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell found himself not knowing quite what to say.
``I just shook his hand,'' Mitchell said. ``The way he's been playing, it takes your breath away.''
Three nights after his on-court display of frustration in the team's loss to Boston, Bosh poured in 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Raptors to a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats that snapped a two-game losing streak.
[ ] The 24-year-old has been enjoying a career season and it was more of the same Wednesday, as Bosh looked fierce and focused and played all but three minutes of the game, shooting 15-for-20 on the night and making nine of 10 free throw attempts.
``It's something Chris and I used to talk about all the time, I used to tell him, `the great ones walk on the floor every night and they think they're the best player on the court,''' Mitchell said. ``It's just an air of confidence, it's mental. We know he's got the talent, it's just coming focused and ready to go every night, and learning how to pull your teammates along with you.''
Joey Graham scored a season-high 17 points, while Andrea Bargnani added 11 points and nine rebounds, and Jose Calderon finished with 10 points and nine assists for the Raptors (7-7), who played without starting centre Jermaine O'Neal (ankle).
Bosh scored 24 points in the first half alone, but still the Raptors never led by more than 10 points against the NBA's lowest-scoring team, and Toronto took a 75-68 lead into the fourth quarter in front of a crowd of 17,414 at the Air Canada Centre.
The Bobcats pulled within a point with just under three minutes to play on a basket by Emeka Okafor, but Bosh knocked down a 20-foot jumper the next time down the floor, and then Graham, a pleasant surprise in his 22 minutes on the floor (more than his six previous games combined), scored on a dunk to put Toronto back up by five.
Calderon scored on a pull-up jumper with 31 seconds left to secure the victory.
Bosh, whose 27.6 points per game rank him third in the league in scoring, said his confidence is at an all-time high right now.
``I think I'm just figuring a couple of things out, I'm trying to have a little bit of confidence in myself, and every night I'm trying to bring it to the table,'' said Bosh, who matched his career high of 42 points in last Friday's loss to New Jersey. ``When I'm settling, I have to keep that in mind, be aggressive, get to the free throw line and take my jumpers when I'm open and just move quick and fast. . .''
He said he took the frustration from the losses to Boston and New Jersey and channelled it into working harder in practice and setting an example for his teammates.
``It's all about being able to have another game, have another crack at it,'' Bosh said. ``I took the two practice days as a chance to get better and another chance to play the sport that I love, I never take it for granted, I wanted to make sure we practised hard and just bring that focus and intensity so that it carried over to the game.''
Charlotte coach Larry Brown had kind words for the Raptors all-star afterward.
``He gets better and better,'' Brown said. ``He's posting up better, he's putting it on the floor better. Before you didn't know whether he was a four or a three. Now, he's just a great basketball player.''
The Raptors shot 50 per cent on the night, while Charlotte shot 43 per cent.
Gerald Wallace had 23 points to top the Bobcats (4-10), who were playing without leading scorer Jason Richardson for the seventh straight game (knee surgery).
O'Neal announced before the game he wouldn't be ready to play after injuring his ankle in Sunday's 118-103 loss to Boston. The veteran centre started against the Celtics, despite straining his surgically repaired left knee just two nights earlier against New Jersey.
Wallace led the way with 13 points in the first quarter including a couple of eye-popping dunks and the Bobcats led 25-24 to end the frame.
Bosh poured in 13 points in the second quarter, while Graham provided a spark off the bench with eight points, four in the last 22 seconds that put the Raptors up 51-46 at halftime.
The Raptors took a game-high 10-point lead late in the third when Calderon pulled up to drain a three-pointer and Toronto took a 75-68 lead into the last 12 minutes.
NOTES: The Raptors beat the Bobcats 89-79 in Charlotte earlier this month. Bosh had 30 points and 15 rebounds in that win. . . The game was the third of four straight at the Air Canada Centre. . . The Raptors host Atlanta on Friday before leaving town for three games out west against the L.A. Lakers, Denver and Utah.
Loading...
6:01
Toronto Raptors vs San Antonio Spurs Dec.20/08by monuow2,507 views
i honestly thought cb4 was gonna get like 50+ pts but w/e
halosvr 3 years ago
LOL @ throwing in bargnanis air ball at the end
jalenrose 3 years ago
happy thxgiving to all americans, wish you guys can even greet us! =(
dotaman24 3 years ago
not the prettiest of games, but I'll take the win.
kidcaper007 3 years ago 2