• Recap
• Bleachers

Bargnani, Raptors cruise past Bulls

Oct 20, 2007 - 1:57 AM By Brian Herman PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Andrea Bargnani and the Toronto Raptors were firing on all cylinders.

Bargnani scored 19 points as the Raptors posted a 92-82 preseason victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Reserve Juan Dixon scored 17 second-half points and Rasho Nesterovic scored 12 for Toronto, which started fast vs. Chicago and didn't ease up until the fourth quarter.

Bargnani, who connected on 7-of-12 from the floor, had 11 points in the first period when the Raptors outscored the Bulls, 28-19. The second-year player from Italy also drilled three 3-pointers for Toronto, which led by 14 at halftime.

Overall, the Raptors shot 49 percent (36-of-74) to improve to 3-2 in exhibition play.

Toronto was playing without All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who sat out his third straight exhibition contest with a sore left knee. Chicago rested center Ben Wallace, while guard Ben Gordon sat out with a left ankle sprain.

Aaron Gray scored 14 points and Andres Nocioni scored 12 off the bench for Chicago, which fell to 2-2 in preseason play.