Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - DeMar DeRozan poured in a game-high 23 points
and pulled down eight rebounds as the Toronto Raptors held on to beat the
Phoenix Suns, 101-97, on Friday.
Toronto led, 95-89, after Mickael Pietrus' 3-pointer at the 5:49 mark, but a
Sebastian Telfair layup and a Jermaine O'Neal dunk pulled the Suns within
95-93.
After Amir Johnson split a pair of free throws, Shannon Brown's layup pulled
the Suns within 96-95 with 2 1/2 minutes to go. Kyle Lowry's pass sailed out
of bounds and the Suns took over with 51.4 ticks left.
Luis Scola missed a spinning hook shot and Marcin Gortat's tip-in rolled off
the rim, but Phoenix was able to secure the rebound and quickly called a
timeout with 33 seconds to play.
Scola took the ball on the left wing and posted up Andrea Bargnani. Scola
faked a spin to his left, took a dribble to his right and put up a leaning
jumper that rimmed out. Scola appeared to be fouled on the play, but the
whistles remained silent.
Lowry was then fouled, but the Villanova product went just 1-for-2 from the
line to give the Suns another chance.
Brown took the ball at the top of the key, took a dribble to his left,
then attacked the basket, but couldn't get the layup to go.
A pair of Bargnani free throws sealed it for the Raptors.
The Sports Network