Raptors storm past Rockets
(Reuters)Updated: 2007-03-01 14:17
HOUSTON - Andrea Bargnani scored 20 points, and the Toronto Raptors used a torrid shooting first half to build a 20-point lead and beat the Houston Rockets 106-90 on Wednesday night.
 The Houston Rockets' Shane Battier (31) is fouled by Toronto Raptors' Chris Bosh (R) in the fourth quarter of their NBA basketball game in Houston February 28, 2007. At left is Raptors' Kris Humphries. [Reuters] |
T.J. Ford and Kris Humphries added 16 points apiece for the Raptors, who have won 10 of 13.
Tracy McGrady scored 22 points for Houston, which has lost four of six.
The Rockets pulled within nine with 10 minutes to play before Toronto put away the game with 10 straight points, six of them by Jose Calderon, to open a 95-76 lead with 7:17 to play.
The Raptors stretched their lead to as many as 22 as they finished shooting 57.1 percent (44-of-77) after hitting 69 percent (29-of-42) the first half. They made 16 of 20 shots (80 percent) in the second quarter alone.
Houston quickly cut Toronto's 67-47 halftime lead to 70-60 with 7:03 left in the third quarter. The Raptors were only 4-of-16 (25 percent) from the field in the third quarter but still managed to lead 79-68 after three.
Houston shot 54 percent (21-of-39) the first half but Toronto was much better. The Raptors were 5-of-8 on 3-pointers in the first two quarters.
After hitting four straight shots for a 9-0 run in one stretch, the Raptors forged their first 20-point lead at 52-32 with 4:18 left in the second quarter. They scored 40 points in the period, the most by a Rockets opponent in a quarter this season.
The Raptors led 67-47 at the half behind Bargnani's 13 points, including 3-of-3 on 3-pointers.
An 8-0 run in the middle of the first quarter helped Toronto to a 17-8 lead.
The Raptors hit 59.1 percent of their shots in the period and led by as many as
nine before settling for a 27-21 lead.
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