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Bosh, Raptors top putrid Knicks

Jan 12, 2008 - 5:01 AM By Larry Fleisher PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Sam Mitchell's big man had a dominating night while Isiah Thomas' two big men had a nice seat for the action.

Bosh collected 40 points and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors never trailed in a 99-90 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Jamario Moon added 13 points for the Raptors, who have won consecutive games for the first time since winning four in a row from December 9-14.

Bosh turned in over 20 points in his season-high fifth consecutive contest. He also surpassed his season average of 20.5 points with a 23-point showing in the first half when Toronto led by as many as 13 before taking a nine-point edge heading into the locker room.

"I was just trying to come out and play aggressive," Bosh said. "A lot of looks were there for me. I just wanted to stay aggressive the whole game. I knew I could get my shot when I wanted to."

Bosh just missed his career high of 42 set December 22 at Phoenix. He made 14-of-30 shots and 12-of-15 free throws.

"We just ran our offense," Mitchell said. "I felt like he had some advantages. He recognized and took it to the basket."

"It makes it easy for us," Toronto guard Anthony Parker added. "I'm sure it's not easy on him, but he's making great decisions about when to drive and when to shoot.

"If we can throw it into there, and he can manufacture baskets, that takes a lot of pressure off the team."

Not only did Bosh dominate, he also outscored New York's starting frontcourt 40-6. He also had six fewer points than the Knicks' entire starting lineup.

Bosh's rebounding also came on a night in which Toronto rebounded extremely well. Moon had 10 rebounds and Parker pulled down eight as the Raptors held a 43-33 edge.

While Bosh was having his way in and around the low post, New York's biggest low-post threats were watching from the bench.

"He definitely presents a problem down there on the block with his versatility," Knicks center Eddy Curry said of Bosh. "We gave him different looks and he was still able to come in here and torch us pretty bad."

Curry did not play the rest of the first half after being pulled with 6:11 remaining. Zach Randolph did not play the final 7:15 of the half - or after halftime - after committing an offensive foul.

Randolph did not appear content with the move as he had a lengthy discussion with the coaching staff and declined a seat next to Thomas on the bench. From the far end of the bench, he watched as Bosh scored 10 more points, including a thunderous dunk with 22.4 seconds remaining.

Both Thomas and Randolph said the discussion was routine frustration because of the continued losing.

"I am sure he is frustrated just like we all are frustrated," Thomas said. "One thing that I know about him is that he wants to play and every player wants to play and no one likes to be taken out of the game."

"Any player will get upset because they want to play," Randolph added. "I want to play. I love playing. I want to be out there."

Randolph played a season-low 9:51, took two shots, had one rebound and went scoreless in a game that he started for the first time in his career.

Curry, who was benched in Chicago last month and briefly pulled from the starting lineup, was held under double digits for the eighth time this season. He scored six points in 15:09 and grabbed just two rebounds.

Thomas said the benchings were due more to the matchup problems that Toronto created.

"I thought he and Eddy both were just having problems with the foot speed of Toronto tonight, and it was just a tough game to match up particulary for those two," Thomas said. "They did a good job of isolating both of those guys when they got the ball into traffic. I just tried to go with quicker people and tried to get us back into the game."

Curry returned for the third but two quick fouls sent him to the bench again before he finally returned. He checked back in with 4:50 remaining and the Knicks down by 14 points.

Toronto extended its lead to 81-64 after three and the loud "Fire Isiah" chants returned from the crowd.

The chants continued throughout some of the fourth as the Knicks lost for the ninth time in 10 games and fifth straight time at home.

"It's pretty frustrating," Curry said. "It's getting real frustrating."

The Raptors allowed the Knicks to get back in it when Nate Robinson's layup with 90 seconds remaining cut it 95-88. After Bosh rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Parker, he was called for an offensive foul.

Following New York's 20-second timeout, Marbury missed a floater, practically securing the win for Toronto.

Jamal Crawford led New York with 27 points and Robinson added 24. The backcourt duo combined for 19 points during the final quarter as the Knicks barely avoided their league-leading 17th double-digit loss.