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Knicks-Raptors Preview

Apr 14, 2010 - 3:37 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

New York (29-52) at Toronto (39-42), 8:00 p.m. EDT

Even after a five-game skid and with Chris Bosh injured, the Toronto Raptors still have a chance to salvage their season.

The Raptors can secure a playoff spot with a win and some help as they host the New York Knicks on Wednesday night in their season finale.

Toronto (39-42) needs a win over New York (29-52) and a Chicago loss to Charlotte on Wednesday night to secure its third playoff berth in four seasons.

The Raptors trail the Bulls by one game, but hold the tiebreaker by virtue of winning the season series 2-1. Whichever teams ends up with the Eastern Conference's eighth seed will face league-leading Cleveland in the playoffs.

Without Bosh, Toronto probably wouldn't last long versus the Cavaliers. The power forward will miss his fifth straight game, and his status for the start for the postseason is uncertain after undergoing surgery on his broken nose last week.

The Raptors lost their first four games without Bosh and five in a row overall before beating Detroit 111-97 on Monday night. Toronto had a 1 1/2-game lead over Chicago before its skid.

The Raptors lost starting shooting guard Sonny Weems for the last few minutes after he appeared to hurt his right ankle. He is expected to be a game-time decision.

Weems averaged 19.0 points in three games before being held to six in his last contest. If he can't play, rookie DeMar DeRozan will likely get his 66th start.

DeRozan had 12 points Monday as the Raptors shot 60.0 percent (45 for 75) from the field and 3-point range (9 for 15). Toronto had a season-high 37 assists, getting 23 from point guards Jose Calderon and Jarrett Jack after they totaled seven in a 104-88 loss to the Bulls on Sunday night.

"We had a lot of guys trying to do too much and going 1-on-1, so we stressed the importance of trusting your teammates and sharing the ball," coach Jay Triano said.

New York had five players score in double figures as it snapped a three-game losing streak with a 114-103 win over Washington on Monday night.

David Lee had a game-high 26 points in what could have been his last game at Madison Square Garden as a Knick. New York, wrapping up its franchise-worst ninth straight losing season, could free up a total of $32 million in salary cap space if it renounces Lee's rights.

"I obviously bleed blue and orange and enjoy being here in New York, but there is a business side to this and that's going to take effect once the horn sounds ... in Toronto," he said.

Lee has averaged 25.7 points and 16.6 rebounds in three games against the Raptors this season. Toronto, though, has a chance to sweep the season series for the first time in franchise history.

Weems had 20 points and nine rebounds in the Raptors' 102-96 win over the Knicks on March 5.