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Raptors hope to overcome loss of Bosh

Mar 2, 2008 - 2:20 PM Toronto (32-25) at Charlotte (19-39) 6:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors know their playoff fate rests on the shoulders of Chris Bosh. To that end, they plan on playing things safe.

Likely without Bosh for the next three games, the Raptors meet the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

Bosh, who dealt with a sore left knee throughout the preseason, tweaked his right knee in Monday's road win at Indiana and has experienced some soreness in the knee since. The pain finally got to be too much on Friday for Bosh, who left during the first quarter of the Raptors' 122-111 home loss to the Pacers.

Toronto, which had its three-game winning streak snapped Friday, figures to take a cautious approach with Bosh given their place in the standings.

The Raptors are in a virtual tie with the Cleveland Cavaliers (33-26) for fourth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

As Bosh figures to rest, the Raptors will aim for their fifth consecutive win over Charlotte. The Bobcats, who were without leading-scorer Gerald Wallace again for the third straight game as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered on February 22, lost 108-100 at Boston on Friday.

Jason Richardson had 30 points while Raymond Felton added 22 and 10 assists for Charlotte, which has dropped five straight and 12 of its last 13 contests.