Raptors clinch playoff berth with win over Charlotte

Apr 2, 2007, 0:40 GMT

Toronto, ON - Chris Bosh posted 24 points and 16 rebounds, as the Atlantic Division-leading Toronto Raptors downed the Charlotte Bobcats, 107-94, at Air Canada Centre to clinch a playoff berth with nine games to play.

Toronto, which is the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race, is seven games ahead of the second-place New Jersey Nets in the Atlantic.

Juan Dixon scored 15 points for the Raptors, who collected their third straight victory. Anthony Parker and Jose Calderon both netted 14 points for the Raptors, who have won five of their last six games overall. Kris Humphries added 13 points and eight boards, while T.J. Ford had 11 points and eight assists.

Walter Herrmann notched 22 points and eight rebounds for Charlotte, which failed to extend its winning streak to three games. Emeka Okafor scored 16 points and Gerald Wallace 13 for the Bobcats, who have lost three of their last seven games overall.

The Raptors burst out of the gate on a 14-4 run finished by a Bosh jumper about halfway through the first quarter. They later scored six straight in the final minute for a 27-19 lead heading into the second, in which both squads put up 26 points for a 53-45 Raptors halftime advantage.

The teams stayed neck-and-neck through the third quarter as well. Toronto added just a point to its margin for an 80-71 lead heading into the final stanza, as Knight's free throw with three ticks left reduced Charlotte's deficit to single digits.

Toronto opened the fourth on a 13-5 run capped by a Dixon reverse layup with 8:15 remaining for a 93-76 lead, and cruised to victory thereafter.

Game Notes

This was the third and final meeting of the campaign between the clubs. The Raptors won all three contests and are 8-2 all-time against the Bobcats...Charlotte has lost four of the five meetings at Toronto.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

.