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Peterson ties it, Bosh wins it in spectacular fashion for Raptors

Mar 31, 2007 - 5:00 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Morris Peterson tied the game in spectacular fashion. Chris Bosh won it in a more conventional manner.

Peterson drained a desperation heave as time expired in regulation and Bosh scored eight of his 37 points in overtime as the Toronto Raptors posted an improbable 123-118 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Washington (38-33) fell one-half game behind Miami (39-33) for the top spot in the Southeast Division.

"It's a tough loss," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "We have to suck it up, hold our heads up high, do not sulk and be men and credit your opponent. It is what it is and it happened. We have to come in (Saturday) and prepare for our games against Milwaukee and Charlotte."

Peterson played only 55 seconds on Friday but made a huge impact. Trailing by three points with 3.8 seconds left, Raptors guard Anthony Parker fired a 70-foot in-bounds pass which was intercepted by Wizards forward Michael Ruffin, who tossed the ball in the air in attempt to run out the clock and keep Toronto from attempting a last-second shot.

"I wanted to win. My whole thing is I want to be ready whenever my name is called," Peterson said. "I think that is what being a professional is about. As an NBA player you always want to play more minutes, but you know what, I was always taught to never give up.

"If I got out there on the court, the game is not over. He must have had some confidence in me to go out there. I took it as compliment that he wanted me in, that he had enough confidence in me at the end of the game to put me in."

The ball went directly to Peterson, who threw in a remarkable contested 3-pointer from five feet behind the arc as time expired.

"Honestly, I tipped it because I was thinking there was a short clock," Ruffin said. "It was just a natural reaction to throw it in the air. I was thinking the time would run out. I didn't get a good throw and there ended up being more time left on the clock."

Bosh took over in the extra period, scoring eight straight points for the Raptors to make it 119-114 with 1:18 left. The All-Star forward shot 15-of-24 from the field and grabbed 14 rebounds.

"You just got to keep it going," Bosh said. "We're trying to win basketball games and we're in a battle for third place (in the conference). We just wouldn't give it up, we refused."

Toronto coach Sam Mitchell agreed.

"It was just one of those games," Mitchell said. "That's why that slogan, NBA is fantastic, the games are never over. It was nice for us to win a game like that for a change. I can't remember us winning one, since I've been here, like that."

But it was Bosh's play on the defensive end that saved the game. After four free throws by Washington star Gilbert Arenas and two by Toronto's Juan Dixon, the Wizards trailed, 121-118, with 18 seconds left.

Arenas then missed a shot from the arc, got it back and had his driving layup blocked by Bosh with two seconds remaining.

Arenas scored 34 points on just 9-of-29 shooting.

It was like watching an NCAA Tournament game, and it felt like one," Arenas said. "It is hard to lose like that. We just have to suck it up and get ready for the next game against Milwaukee."