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Sessions lifts Bobcats over Raptors

Nov 22, 2012 - 4:52 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Ramon Sessions put home the game-winning bucket with 28.3 seconds to play and the Charlotte Bobcats hung on for a 98-97 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Sessions finished with 14 points and six assists. Kemba Walker scored a team- high 19 points to go with seven assists for the Bobcats, who have won five of six and are one victory shy of matching their total from all of last season. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist netted 14 points, while Ben Gordon contributed 13 points in the victory.

"It's about sacrificing and coming together as a group," Walker said. "So far, we've really come together as a team and are just really having fun out there."

Andrea Bargnani scored a game-high 25 points and Kyle Lowry put home 21 points for the Raptors, who have lost three of their last four. Jonas Valanciunas contributed 16 points and 10 boards in the setback.

With the game tied at 93, DeMar DeRozan gave the Raptors the lead with a driving layup, resulting in a three-point play with 1:52 on the clock.

Walker answered with a three-point play of his own at the other end, pulling the Bobcats even with 55.5 seconds left.

DeRozan was fouled on the ensuing Raptors inbound play and made 1-of-2 from the line.

On the next Charlotte possession, Sessions took matters into his own hands and bowled his way into the lane before putting some touch on his shot, which bounced off the front of the rim and dropped home, giving the Bobcats the lead.

On the final touch of the game, Bismack Biyombo blocked DeRozan and Bargnani got the offensive rebound, but was off with his 3-point attempt.

Jose Calderon grabbed the board and called Toronto's final timeout with 6.4 seconds to go. On the inbound play, the Raptors got the ball to Lowry for a 13-foot jumper but it was blocked by Jeffrey Taylor.

Bargnani's 18-footer at the horn fell shot, sealing the win for Charlotte.

"We have to make our own breaks," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "I thought we shot ourselves in the foot in the beginning of the fourth quarter as far as turnovers. When you turn the ball over, they score layups."

After exchanging buckets early in the game, the Raptors used a 15-7 push to take control of the quarter. Lowry capped the run with a corner 3-pointer to make it 17-9 with 4:41 to play in the session.

Charlotte battled back and trailed by just three heading into the second quarter.

The second stanza was back and forth for the duration of the frame, featuring nine lead changes and three ties. A Kidd-Gilchrist slam with 2:43 left gave the Bobcats a six-point edge.

Toronto answered with six straight points to make it a 48-48 game. It was 53-53 at the break.

A deep jumper by Valanciunas early in the third put the Raptors up 63-55, but the Bobcats answered with an 18-6 surge to take a 73-69 advantage with 2:26 left in the quarter.

Terrence Ross made a layup with just over a minute left to pull the Raptors within 75-74 after three.

Game Notes

The Bobcats have won four consecutive games against the Raptors at home ... Charlotte shot 41.9 percent from the floor and just 3-of-19 from beyond the arc ... Toronto hit 46.3 percent of its shots ... The game featured 13 lead changes and 10 ties ... Charlotte turned 14 Toronto turnovers into 21 points.