Raptors 98, Clippers 93
Andrea Bargnani scored 27 points to lift the host Toronto Raptors to a 98-93 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
The top overall pick in the 2006 draft scored eight of Toronto’s nine points during a late fourth-quarter stretch to help the Raptors (15-40) hold on for only their second victory in 18 games.
Blake Griffin had 21 points and 15 rebounds for his 45th double-double of the season for the Clippers (20-34). Baron Davis added 20 points and seven assists in a losing effort.
DeMar DeRozan added 17 points and rookie Ed Davis added 13 points and 14 rebounds for Toronto.
Bargnani had eight points during a three-minute run in which Toronto turned a two-point lead into a 96-89 advantage with just over a minute to play.
Los Angeles led 54-52 after Griffin’s basket with 9:30 to play in the third quarter. Amir Johnson tied the game with a hook shot to start a 16-6 Raptors’ run. Sonny Weems' dunk off an alley-oop pass from Jose Calderon capped the spurt and gave Toronto a 68-60 lead with 5:22 left in the quarter.
Bargnani had nine points in the quarter, which ended with the Raptors leading 78-71.
Toronto’s Davis provided a first-half spark with nine points and eight rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Brian Cook added 17 points for the Clippers.