Raptors End 2007 With Win Over Hornets
Posted December 31, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Raptors finished off 2007 the right way: with a win on the road.
In truth Sam Mitchell’s club made things more difficult than they needed to be New Year’s Eve, using a spirited comeback to wrap up a lengthy road trip with a 97-92 win over the New Orleans Hornets.
Chris Bosh led the charge with 29 points and helped bring his club back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, ending the Hornets’ five-game winning streak.
New Orleans point guard Chris Paul was both hero and goat for the home side, finishing with 23 points, 16 assists and seven rebounds but committing a late turnover that ultimately sealed the victory for the Raps.
His Raptors counterpart Jose Calderon had 17 points and 12 assists, while Toronto was also buoyed by the efforts of Anthony Parker, who scored 19 points including a fast-break layup that cut Toronto’s deficit to 86-85 with 3:11 to go.
New Orleans regained the lead once more on a basket by David West, who finished with 33 points and 11 rebounds, but Bosh converted a driving layup as he was fouled to put Toronto in the lead for good.
After taking two of its last three games on the road swing, Toronto now has a little time to rest before hosting the red-hot Detroit Pistons on Jan. 4.
