TORONTO: The Toronto Raptors eked out a 106-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers after Kobe Bryant missed a three-pointer just before the buzzer on Sunday.
Hedo Turkoglu made two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play as the Raptors scored the game’s final five points to claim a ninth win in their last 10 home games.
“I always have confidence,” Turkoglu told reporters.
“I know I have been struggling lately shooting the ball but I don’t let it get to me. I try to put those behind and try to still play my game.” Down 105-101 with less than two minutes to play, Toronto turned to Andrea Bargnani for a field goal and free throw before Turkoglu delivered the winning free throws.
Bargnani wound up with 22 points with Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack both scoring 18. Turkoglu had nine.
Bryant led the Lakers with a game-high 27 points despite playing with a broken right index finger. He also had 16 rebounds and nine assists but will be disappointed to have missed his most important shot of the game as time expired.
Los Angeles led by 10 points in the third quarter before the Raptors rallied.
“They played some rabid, tenacious defense from about the middle of the third quarter on,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “They did a good job of turning the ball over and getting run-outs from it.” The win was the 15th in 21 home games for the Raptors this season.
“We think that we’re playing pretty well and we’re confident,” coach Jay Triano said.
“There were a couple of times today when we could have folded, we got down eight, nine points and we never did.
“Our guys just kept battling, we fought for more stops, we attacked the basket offensively, we weren’t intimidated.
Mavericks 128, Knicks 78: In New York, Drew Gooden stepped into the lineup with 15 points and 18 rebounds, and Dallas coasted to the biggest win in franchise history while missing two starters.
Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry each scored 20 points, and the Mavericks, who led by as much as 53, put on a shooting clinic in beating the Knicks for the eighth straight time.
Dallas shot 58 percent from the field was 12 of 22 from beyond the arc and 16 of 17 from the foul line. David Lee had 11 points and 14 rebounds as the Knicks lost their sixth in eight games.
Clippers 92, Wizards 78: In Washington Chris Kaman scored 20 points, Marcus Camby had 12 points and 19 rebounds and Los Angeles snapped an eight-game road skid to surpass last season’s win total.
Baron Davis had 11 points and 11 assists, and Rasual Butler scored 14 points for the Clippers (20-23), who won despite a 3-of-16 performance from 3-point range.
Antawn Jamison had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Brendan Haywood added 18 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who have lost three straight.
