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Raptors down Hornets

Mar 1, 2012 - 5:28 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Linas Kleiza and Leandro Barbosa combined for 36 points off the bench to help the Raptors defeat the Hornets 95-84 at New Orleans Arena on Wednesday.

Kleiza had 21 and Barbosa chipped in 15, while DeMar DeRozan netted 21 as well for the Raptors, who improved to 6-13 on the road, matching last year's road win total for the entire season.

"We did a better job at the end of the game," remarked Barbosa after the contest. "We finished plays and we made baskets. I think that was the difference between last night and tonight. We're getting better and we're growing."

Marco Belinelli paced New Orleans with 20 points and Chris Kaman contributed a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Trevor Ariza and Gustavo Ayon added 11 points apiece for the Hornets, who dropped their fourth game in five contests.

The teams exchanged buckets in the early portion of the third frame, but New Orleans used a 15-4 run over the final seven-plus minutes of the third to take a 69-62 lead into the final stanza.

Toronto quickly tied the game at 69 as it started the fourth with seven straight points.

After back-to-back three-pointers from Belinelli, Barbosa retied the game at 77, igniting a 17-4 Raptors surge to give the visitors an 92-81 advantage as the Hornets failed to score a field goal for over eight-plus minutes down the stretch.

Barbosa netted seven during the decisive surge as the Raptors escaped New Orleans with the win.

"They did what was necessary to get the win," said New Orleans head coach Monty Williams. "I thought they were more aggressive going to the basket and that started early in the game. We couldn't guard the ball. A lot of that is on me."

Toronto tallied the first bucket of the game, but New Orleans responded with the next 10 points to take the early 10-2 lead.

The Raptors owned the latter stages of the quarter, outscoring the Hornets 12-4 over the final four minutes to take a 29-25 lead after the first.

Toronto's lead reached double-digits after a 7-1 run to start the second made it 36-26, but New Orleans battled back, as a Jarrett Jack free throw cut the lead to two, 40-38, with 4:18 to play.

An 11-4 Toronto run pressed the lead back to nine on a Jose Calderon jumper, but Jack scored four straight points to cut the deficit to 51-46 heading into the locker room.

Game Notes

New Orleans begins another back-to-back on Friday when it hosts Dallas and then Indiana on Saturday...Toronto will host Memphis on Friday...The Hornets lead the all-time series 30-20...Toronto's Calderon finished with 12 points and six assists in the loss...New Orleans' Jack ended the game with 10 points, five boards, and six assists.