Trail Blazers 94 - 84 Raptors
Final
  for this game

Raptors aim to snap skid against visiting Blazers

Jan 20, 2012 - 3:52 PM (Sports Network) - The Toronto Raptors try to put the brakes on a six-game losing streak this evening when they welcome the Portland Trail Blazers to the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto's latest loss came in Boston on Wednesday, as they dropped a 96-73 decision to the Celtics.

Gary Forbes scored 18 points to pace a Raptors team that was held to 37.7 percent shooting in the game. DeMar DeRozan contributed 11 points for the Raptors, who fell for the eighth time in their last nine tries.

"I thought we competed for a while and then we gave in," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "We have to be the aggressor, we got to be the desperate team and compete for 48 minutes. That's what we are looking for, competition for 48 minutes and the Celtics did that tonight and we didn't."

Toronto was again without leading scorer Andrea Bargnani, who missed his fourth straight game with a strained left calf. He's not likely to return tonight either.

Portland, meanwhile, enters on the heels of a 92-89 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.

Jamal Crawford scored 22 points with five assists and LaMarcus Aldridge netted 20 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for Portland, which has dropped four of its last games after opening the year at 7-2.

"People keep saying we're good, we're going to be OK," Aldridge said. "If we keep thinking like that, then we won't ever figure it out. And we've got to figure this out before things get bad."

The Blazers, who fell to 2-5 away from home, will wrap up a six-game road trip on Saturday in Detroit.

"We've got to play harder, play together and come out with a sense of urgency," head coach Nate McMillan said. "We've dropped four out of the last five, but we didn't play like we had dropped those games. ... In order for us to give ourselves a chance to win ball games, we've got to work harder."

Portland could right itself tonight, as it has beaten the Raptors the last six times it has faced them. The Blazers have also won nine of their last 13 north of the border.






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