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Bargnani scores 18 points as Raptors beat Wizards

A.Walker3 months ago

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Toronto Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani (7) picks up an offensive foul as he drives through Washington Wizards forward Cartier Martin (20) during first half NBA action in Toronto on Sunday April 1, 2012. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

(AP) Andrea Bargnani scored 18 points, Jose Calderon and DeMar DeRozan each had 15 and the Toronto Raptors beat Washington 99-92 Sunday night, their fifth straight home victory over the Wizards.


Amir Johnson scored 10 points and James Johnson, Gary Forbes and Alan Anderson each had nine for the Raptors, who never trailed.


John Wall had 13 points and 11 assists and Kevin Seraphin scored a career-high 16 points for the Wizards, who were trying to win back-to-back games for the second time this season. Washington’s only two-game winning streak came with victories at Detroit on Feb. 12 and at Portland on Feb. 14.


Jordan Crawford scored 18 points, Chris Singleton fouled out with 15, Roger Mason Jr. had 12 and Jan Veseley 10 for the Wizards, who have lost 11 of 14.


Washington held its opponent below 100 points for the ninth consecutive game, something the Wizards hadn’t done since Nov. 30-Dec. 17, 2002. Still, even the improved defense hasn’t been enough for the Wizards, who have lost seven of nine in that stretch.


Up by 10 to start the fourth quarter, Toronto increased its lead to a game-high 15 points 80-65 on two free throws by Bargnani with 8:11 left.


Washington pulled to 82-76 with an 11-2 run over the next 3:12, but a free throw by DeRozan and a jumper from Bargnani gave Toronto an 85-76 lead with 3:50 to go.


Seraphin’s dunk brought the Wizards within three at 89-86 with 1:18 left but Amir Johnson’s putback of DeRozan’s missed jumper and two more free throws by Bargnani gave Toronto a seven-point lead with 51 seconds left.


Wall converted a three-point play to cut it to four but DeRozan answered with a driving layup, giving the Raptors a 95-89 edge with 24 seconds remaining.


Bargnani scored eight points early as Toronto took a 9-1 lead but couldn’t maintain the edge. Seraphin had six points for Washington and Roger Mason Jr.’s jumper with 2 seconds left in the quarter cut it to 22-21 after one.


The Raptors pulled away again in the second, taking a 43-34 lead on Amir Johnson’s dunk with 2:46 left. Wall and Seraphin each scored four points as Washington closed the half with an 8-3 run, cutting it to 46-42 at the intermission.


DeRozan scored 10 points in the third and Alan Anderson’s jumper at the buzzer gave the Raptors a 71-61 lead heading to the fourth.


NOTES: The Wizards were without Nene and Trevor Booker, both of whom left Friday’s win over Philadelphia with left foot injuries. ... Toronto and Washington split their four-game season series. ... Calderon finished with eight assists, ending a run of five straight games with at least 10. ... The Raptors wore camouflage uniforms to honor the Canadian military, the third of four times this season they’ll wear them.


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