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Bargnani leads Raptors past Knicks

Feb 23, 2009 - 12:02 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Andrea Bargnani and the Toronto Raptors exacted a measure of revenge against the New York Knicks.

Bargnani scored 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Raptors topped the Knicks, 111-100, on Sunday afternoon.

Anthony Parker scored 24 points while Shawn Marion added 16 points and 15 rebounds in his third game with the Raptors, who bounced back nicely from Friday's 127-97 loss at New York.

"We watched the film on that - 'embarrassing' is the word that we said a lot," Parker said. "We wanted to come out and set a different tone tonight and just let them know that this isn't going to be that kind of night."

Friday's game was the most lopsided victory of the season for the fast-paced Knicks, who scored 75 first-half points and owned a 25-point halftime lead.

But less than 48 hours later, the Raptors once again defended their home court against New York, which has lost its last nine visits to Air Canada Centre.

"I think our intensity was a lot better," Raptors interim coach Jay Triano said. "We just played with a lot more intensity and passion for the game."

"It was understood that there was going to be more fight (from the Raptors)," Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni added. "These are good players that played in the playoffs. They are a veteran team."

Toronto's catalyst on both ends was the 7-foot Bargnani, who shot 8-of-15 from the floor and went 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. The versatile Italian sank three 3-pointers and also added three assists and three blocks.

Bargnani's stellar play offset a surprisingly poor outing by Raptors All-Star forward Chris Bosh, who managed just 11 points on 5-of-14 shooting.

Toronto also received a boost from Marion, who enjoyed his finest game with the Raptors since being acquired from Miami on February 13. The high-flying forward hauled in five offensive rebounds and also dished out five assists for Toronto, which won for just the third time in its last 11 games.

"We want to free (Marion) up," Bosh said. "That's the reason he is here. We feel he can really be an asset to us."

Al Harrington scored 31 points to pace the Knicks, who have dropped their last four road games and are 7-20 overall away from home.

The matinee contest marked the Knicks debuts for guard Larry Hughes and forward Chris Wilcox, who joined New York via deals made prior to Thursday's trade deadline.

Hughes struggled in 16 minutes off the bench, scoring just three points on 1-of-9 shooting. Wilcox played just over 10 minutes but managed five points and five rebounds.

"We didn't play well enough," D'Antoni said. "We fought back and had a couple of shots to get it real close. But we didn't make out shots at the end."