• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Bosh, Raptors seek fifth consecutive win

Feb 9, 2007 - 3:19 PM LA Lakers (30-20) at Toronto (26-23) 7:00 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors will have to continue their impressive run against one of their biggest nemeses.

The red-hot Raptors shoot for their season-high fifth straight win Friday when they host Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Toronto is on a four-game winning streak - its longest of the campaign - and leads New Jersey (23-27) by 3 1/2 games for first place in the Atlantic Division.

The Eastern Conference's starting power forward in next weekend's All-Star Game, Bosh has been brilliant of late, averaging 30.4 points over his last seven games.

Bosh scored a career-high 41 points Wednesday to pace the Raptors to their 13th win in their last 17 games, a 113-103 triumph over the Orlando Magic.

On Friday, Bosh and Toronto hope to extend their winning streak against the Lakers, who have won three straight contests vs. the Raptors and own a 17-4 record in the all-time series.

Bryant collected 31 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists to pace Los Angeles to a 107-100 home victory over the Raptors on November 17 in the last meeting between these squads.

However, the Lakers have struggled of late, dropping seven of their last 11 games.

Los Angeles hopes to bounce back from Thursday's 93-78 setback at Detroit, where Bryant managed just 18 points and committed eight turnovers.

The Lakers, who will be playing for the seventh time in 10 days, fell to 3-3 on their eight-game road trip.