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Bosh, Raptors beat Sixers, capture Atlantic title

Apr 7, 2007 - 4:12 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- All-Star Chris Bosh helped the Toronto Raptors win their first division title.

Bosh scored 23 points and hauled in 13 rebounds as the Raptors posted a 94-85 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Anthony Parker had 12 points, including 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and reserve Juan Dixon also added 12 for Toronto (43-33), which clinched its first division title in franchise history.

"The division title is important, it's a start," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "You come to all of these arenas and they have division championship banners up in the rafters. If you are trying to start a culture of winning, these guys need to start seeing the fruits of the labor and those things are important."

The Raptors needed a win and a loss by the New Jersey Nets to lock up the Atlantic Division. New Jersey (35-40) was crushed by Chicago, 105-74, on Friday.

"The title means a lot especially with the quick turnaround that we've had this year," Bosh added. "It's a great thing. This team has overcome a lot of adversity with having to gel and putting pressure on ourselves to win. It's great for us."

Bosh shot 8-of-17 from the field and scored six of his points in the third quarter when Toronto ended the period on a 15-0 run to grab a 73-61 lead.

"They played a smart game, that's what it came to," Sixers swingman Andre Iguodala said. "The first half was ours and they came back after halftime. They just got the third quarter and that was the deciding factor."

It was Bosh's seventh straight double-double.

"I know that I have to pick up my play," Bosh said. "It's getting close to playoff time and I know that I have to step up my role and make sure I'm rebounding, taking good shots and stepping up my role as a leader. Some nights, its tough but that's what I have to do. That's my job description."

T.J. Ford had 12 points and six assists and Joey Graham scored 10 for the Raptors, who shot 47 percent (35-of-74) and have won five of their last six contests.

Iguodala had 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists for Philadelphia (30-45), which fell four games behind Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with just seven games remaining.

"They just played better than we did," Sixers guard Kyle Korver said. "They have an offense that tailors to their personnel. They have a big man (Bosh) that commands a double team. They played good basketball and we didn't play our 'A' game tonight."