AP News
(2010-04-01 01:27:36)
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Toronto Raptors opened up a two-game lead for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after they beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114-92 on Wednesday.
Chris Bosh scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds while Andrea Bargnani added 21 and eight rebounds as the Raptors (37-37) used a big second half to put some breathing room between themselves and the ninth-placed Chicago Bulls.
Toronto trailed 75-74 with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter before outscoring the Clippers 40-17 over the remainder of the game.
"We knew we had to make adjustments and come out and play the second half correctly," Bosh told reporters. "There wasn't much said, we just addressed the problems."
Sonny Weems boosted the Raptors with 15 of his 17 points coming in the second half.
Weems, a second-year player who was inserted into the starting lineup four games ago, made all eight of his field goal attempts and added five rebounds.
Chris Kaman had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Los Angeles, while forward Drew Gooden recorded 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench.
Los Angeles, who lost their third successive game and fell to 27-48 on the season, were again without point guard Baron Davis who is having trouble with back spasms.
"I thought the first half we played hard and we made a little run there," Kaman said.
"We've got to give them credit. They deserved to win, they're fighting for that last playoff spot and they wanted it more than we did."
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
