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Graham, Bosh lead Raptors past Hawks

Jan 6, 2007 - 4:38 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Joey Graham's third game against the Atlanta Hawks went much better than his first two.

Graham matched a career high with 19 points and Chris Bosh also was a force as the the Toronto Raptors coasted to a 105-92 victory over the Hawks, whose losing streak reached eight games.

Bosh scored 21 points and Morris Peterson contributed 16 for the Raptors, who never trailed in ending a three-game skid.

A disappointment since being selected 16th overall in the 2006 draft, Graham had scored a total of 10 points in two previous games - both losses - against the Hawks this season.

Graham responded with one the best games of his career Friday, making 8-of-14 shots and also grabbing eight rebounds.

"I came out and had wide-open shots and I knocked them down," Graham said. "This one, I hit four quick points and the sky was the limit after that."

In the first half, Graham scored 13 points as the hot-shooting Raptors raced to a 58-46 advantage. Toronto shot a blistering 66 percent (25-of-38) in the half.

Sparked by Graham and Peterson, the Raptors held a 44-13 advantage in bench points. Toronto also garnered a 44-28 edge in points in the paint.

"I think we fed off of each other," Peterson said. "Joey started off he came in and provided a spark for us and I wanted to come in and match that energy and intensity."

"I thought Mo (Peterson) and Joey (Graham) were spectacular," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "I thought Joey gave us some big lifts, especially in the first half, rebounding and how active he was. Mo, every time they made a run it seemed like he made the shots and we need him to do that."

Graham also pointed to the play of the bench.

"It was something that this team has and utilizes, guys off the bench that play different minutes and positions and it was just me and Mo Pete's night tonight," Graham said.

Playing his second game after missing 12 with a left knee injury, Bosh made 8-of-11 shots in 32 minutes. The star forward had 26 points and 14 rebounds in Wednesday's 100-98 loss to Phoenix.

The Raptors also received an efficient performance from point guard Jose Calderon, who had 12 points and a season-high 12 assists. Calderon started in place of T.J. Ford, who missed his third straight game with a sprained right ankle.

"We know we need T.J.," Calderon said. "But we need every player in this locker room to win games, we need 14 guys."

Marvin Williams scored a season-high 24 points and Speedy Claxton added 18 for the Hawks (9-21), who have lost 12 of their last 13 games.

"We just can't put together a complete game," Williams said. "Guys are out there playing and fighting we just can't put one together."