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Saturday, Apr. 8 8:30pm ET
Toronto 98, Chicago 79 | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHICAGO (AP) _ The Toronto Raptors clinched the first winning season in their five-year history Saturday night and moved closer to clinching a playoff berth by routing the Chicago Bulls 98-79. Toronto, emerging from a slump in which it lost eight of nine games, took off behind the play of Tracy McGrady and the shooting of veteran Dee Brown. The victory allowed the Raptors to move within a half-game of idle Charlotte for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. Toronto's magic number for clinching a postseason berth is two. McGrady and Brown each scored 19 points for the Raptors (42-34), who also got 17 from leading scorer Vince Carter, seven in the final quarter. Ron Artest led the Bulls with 17 points. Fellow rookie Elton Brand struggled against Toronto's interior defense, shooting just 4-of-12 and adding 16 points. Brown came off the bench and hit three straight 3-pointers late in the second quarter as Toronto increased a nine-point first-quarter lead to 20. When another veteran guard, Dell Curry, hit his third 3-pointer of the quarter, the Raptors led 55-33 at the half. Toronto shot 57 percent in the first half to 33 precent for the Bulls. McGrady had 15 of his points in the opening two quarters. The Raptors expanded the lead to 60-35 early in the third quarter before Chicago rallied within 12 late in the period. But Brown hit two more jumpers and another 3-pointer and the lead went quickly back to 19. Notes: McGrady, who will be one of the most sought-after free agents this summer, said no team has an edge for his services. The Bulls and Orlando are expected to bid, and the Raptors want him to stay. "Nobody has an advantage. All teams are equal," McGrady said. "I'm not leaning toward this team or that one. It's wide open." If weather is a factor, Orlando might be a frontrunner. The weather in Chicago when the Raptors arrived early Saturday was snowy with wind chills in the teens and high winds. ... The Bulls activated B.J. Armstrong before the game and placed Randy Brown on the injured list with back spasms. Armstrong has been bothered by sore knees. . ...Toronto guard Doug Christie sat out with a bruised right ankle. ...Brown's 19 points were a season high. He made five 3-pointers ...The Raptors have beaten the Bulls five straight times, including three wins this season. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard Toronto Clubhouse Chicago Clubhouse RECAPS Dallas 98 LA Clippers 96
Toronto 98 AUDIO/VIDEO   Vince Carter jams the ally-oop from Charles Oakley.avi: 425 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||