Changing Times
Toronto – The Toronto Raptors are starting to see how well they can play under interim coach Jay Triano. The New Orleans Hornets just learned from the defending world champions how much they need to improve.
Toronto looks for its first three-game winning streak since opening the season 3-0 as it hosts New Orleans on Sunday afternoon.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Hornets –2 point spread favorites for Friday’s game against the Raptors. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 68% of more than 276 bets for this game have been placed on the Hornets –2.
The Raptors (10-12) return to the Air Canada Centre following a 101-79 victory over New Jersey on Friday night. Chris Bosh had 18 points to lead five players in double figures as the Raptors improved to 2-3 since Triano replaced the fired Sam Mitchell on Dec. 3.
"We’re getting to where we want to be," Triano said. "We really have to clean up our rebounding. The job isn’t done on the defensive end until we rebound the basketball. That will come. That’s the final part of what we’re trying to do."
Bosh is scoring a career-best 24.4 points per game and is also among the league leaders in rebounding, averaging 9.9. Toronto, however, is 29th in the NBA in rebounding with 38.5 per game, and was outrebounded for the 11th straight game on Friday (50-37).
New Orleans (12-7), which is averaging just 39.1 boards, was missing its top rebounder in a 94-82 loss at Boston on Friday. Tyson Chandler, who is averaging 8.0 rebounds, was sidelined with a stiff neck. He could play on Sunday.
"If we had one more guy tonight that would have been able to step up, then we would have had a better opportunity," New Orleans coach Byron Scott said after his team was outrebounded 48-42. "We missed him big time tonight."
Chandler had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a 118-111 win at Toronto on March 30.
While the Hornets had 10 steals and forced 17 turnovers against Boston, Toronto played one of its best defensive games of the season on Friday, holding the Nets to 31.3 percent shooting and causing 19 turnovers.
"Our defensive schemes were solid," Jason Kapono said. "We shut down the paint, closed the gaps."
The Raptors also hit their 3s. Kapono – third in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 48.0 percent – made a season-high four from beyond the arc and scored 16 points while Jose Calderon hit 2-of-4 from 3-point range and had 13. Toronto became the first team in NBA history to hit a 3-pointer in 800 straight games.
Calderon, who is averaging 13.7 points and 10.3 assists in his last three games against the Hornets, set an NBA record by making his 54th consecutive free throw without a miss to begin the season. He has made 55-of-55.
Chris Paul enters following a 20-point, 14-assist performance against Boston – his 16th double-double of the season.
"I’ll tell you right now that I’m not about any moral victory," said Paul, who leads the league with 12.1 assists – 2.9 more per game than Calderon. "We played hard. You win or you lose, and we lost."
In two career games in Toronto – both Hornets wins – Paul is averaging 22.0 points, 14.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds.
Peja Stojakovic went 0-of-2 from beyond the arc against Boston, snapping a 63-game streak with at least one 3-pointer. In eight career games in Toronto, he’s gone 24-of-48 on his 3-point attempts, including a combined 10-of-17 in his last two visits.
The Raptors and Hornets have split the last six meetings in Toronto.
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Posted: 12/14/08 1:00AM ET