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Raptors pull away from Bobcats in second half

Jan 23, 2007 - 2:50 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Jose Calderon made sure the Toronto Raptors did not miss a beat.

Playing without starting point guard T.J. Ford, the Raptors got a strong effort from Calderon and turned up the defense in the second half to post a 105-84 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

Ford missed the game with a sore right ankle but Calderon more than made up for his absence, scoring 19 points to go along with 11 assists for the improving Raptors.

After a 5-10 start, Toronto (20-22) has gone 15-12 and stayed in the Atlantic Division race. One of the NBA's hottest teams over the last two weeks, the Raptors entered the game trailing first-place New Jersey (20-20) by 1 1/2 games in the division standings.

Toronto led, 56-53, at the half as Charlotte cut into an early double-digit deficit by shooting 58 percent in the first two quarters. After the break it was a different story.

The Raptors outscored the Bobcats, 21-8, in the third quarter to pull away. Chris Bosh scored eight of his 20 points in the quarter that Toronto ended on a 21-6 run over the final 10:30.

Gerald Wallace scored 19 points and Raymond Felton had 19 and eight assists for the Bobcats, who were looking to extend their franchise record road win streak to four.