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Bosh, Raptors race past Timberwolves

Feb 25, 2009 - 4:35 AM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani scored 26 points apiece as the Toronto Raptors overcame an early deficit to pull off a 118-110 victory over the struggling Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday.

Anthony Carter added 24 points and Jose Calderon collected 15 and 13 assists for the Raptors, who shot 62 percent (26-of-42) in the second half in picking up back-to-back wins.

"We have to realize nice guys sit at home and watch the playoffs," Bosh said. "That's just how I feel, maybe I'm wrong. But if you play with intensity, you're more likely to win and you're more likely to play better basketball."

The Timberwolves shot 15-of-25 in a blistering first quarter to take a 37-25 lead but quickly cooled, clinging to a 56-52 lead at the break and holding serve in the third quarter before watching Toronto run away in the final period.

"We want to get to a good start and when it doesn't happen we don't want to panic and continue to play the ball we want to play," Bosh said. "They were making shots, and we let that dictate our defense, but we woke up after a while and got it right.

"Tonight, everyone was thinking attack and getting out on the break and we showed another dimension and it seems to be working out. It's fun to play that kind of basketball, everybody's touching the ball, everybody's getting their shots and we have chances for second-chance points. We're running the floor and playing good defense which is the kind of basketball people want to watch and guys want to play."

Minnesota tied the game at 84-84 on Mike Miller's jumper to open the fourth quarter and pulled within 105-103 on Rodney Carney's dunk with 4:58 left. But Toronto used a 10-3 run over the next 3 1/2 minutes to put the game away.

Parker scored 11 points in the fourth quarter and scored 19 in the second half while Bosh and Bargnani combined for 29 after the break.

"We were being aggressive and guys were slashing to the basket and guys were making extra pass and the ball was moving, and that's when we are playing our best," Parker said.

Shawn Marion continued to acclimate himself with the Raptors' system, chipping in 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in over 37 minutes.

Randy Foye scored 25 points and Ryan Gomes added 23 for Minnesota, which fell to 1-5 without Al Jefferson in the lineup.

"We miss that presence in there of a shot-blocker, rebounder and just a guy who clogs up the middle like (Jefferson) and that really helps us," Timberwolves rookie center Kevin Love said. "I haven't been known as a shot-blocker so we really miss him."

Minnesota's biggest shortcoming with its anchor, Jefferson, on the shelf has been on the defensive end, where it has allowed an average of 111 points in the past six contests.

"Our scoring is fine, our defense has to get better: that's the bottom line," Timberwolves interim coach Kevin McHale said. "We can't give up that amount of points. We don't have that security blanket throwing it inside to the horse (Jefferson) and everybody can rest."