Bosh Drops 20, Raptors’ Take 113-111 Exhibition Win Over Knicks

Chris Bosh poured in 20 points to lead the Raptors to a 113-111 pre-season win over the New York Knicks, Toronto’s 11th consecutive exhibition victory at the Air Canada Centre.

Bosh added seven rebounds in his first appearance at the ACC since helping the U.S. team win Olympic gold in Beijing, and led seven Raptors in double figures. Andrea Bargnani finished with 15 points, Kris Humphries added 13, including a huge putback dunk with 27 seconds left that was one of the highlights of the night, newcomer Will Solomon had 12, and Jamario Moon, Anthony Parker and Jason Kapono finished with 10 apiece.

Six-time all-star Jermaine O’Neal, acquired in an off-season trade with the Indiana Pacers, had eight points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, as Raptors coach Sam Mitchell eases him back into action after he missed a good chunk of the past two years, including 42 games last season, with a knee injury.

David Lee had 22 points to top seven Knicks in double figures. Zach Randolph had 19, Nate Robinson finished with 16, Wilson Chandler had 15, Quentin Richardson had 12, and Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury, sporting a new tattoo of his Starbury shoe logo on the left side of his head, scored 10 each.

Neither team dominated the exhibition affair, and the Raptors led just 80-78 heading into the fourth quarter. With mainly second stringers on the floor for Toronto for the entire final quarter, the Raptors trailed by a point before Jason Kapono drained a three with 1:40 left, then Solomon nailed a 20-foot jumper to give Toronto a four-point lead with just over a minute left to play.

The game came a night after the Raptors opened their exhibition season with a 104-84 win at Cleveland. The Knicks were making their pre-season debut and playing their first game under new head coach Mike D’Antoni.

The game was predictably messy pre-season fare, coming just over a week after the Raptors first gathered for training camp in Ottawa from their various off-season points abroad. Now though, the Raptors can head back to the practice gym before their next exhibition game Sunday when they host Philadelphia.

Bosh had 11 of his points in the first quarter, but the Knicks led 30-26 to end the frame.

Randolph poured in 10 points in the second as the Knicks stretched their advantage to seven points, and led 57-53 at halftime.

With the five starters back on the floor to start the third, Toronto opened the quarter with a 19-10 run to take a seven point lead, but led by just two — 80-78 — with a quarter left in the game.