Hornets Wrap Up Raptors
Three weeks ago the Toronto Raptors were the hottest team in the NBA. Six consecutive wins and the sixth best record in their conference had the once dreadful expansion franchise thinking playoffs.
Now those dreams appear to be over.
Eddie Jones scored 28 points and Bobby Phills had 20 as the Charlotte Hornets dealt a significant blow to the Raptors' playoff hopes with a 108-98 victory Tuesday night.
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The Raptors, who play four of their five remaining games on the road, dropped a game below .500 (22-23) and into 10th place in the conference.
"We didn't take advantage of the last opportunity we had," Toronto coach Butch Carter said. "Like I told the guys, they have achieved enough for a lot of people, but it's carpe diem, you really have to seize the moment and tonight we didn't do that."
The Raptors, in their fourth season in the league, closed within two points in the fourth quarter as Tracy McGrady scored eight consecutive points. But the Hornets, who have won 11 of their last 13, went on a 8-0 run with David Wesley scoring six points.
Toronto was within four points with four minutes to go, but Derrick Coleman's dunk and Jones' 3-pointer gave Charlotte a nine point lead.
Jones, who finished 15-for-17 from the free throw line, said the Hornets' loss to the Knicks on Monday served as a wake-up call.
"New York showed us something, they took us out of everything and told us it was playoff time, so we went out tonight and took control of the game," Jones said.
Wesley scored 17 points for the Hornets, while Chucky Brown had 16, Elden Campbell 13 and Coleman 12.
McGrady scored a career-high 27 points and rookie Vince Carter had 22 for the Raptors, who have lost seven of their last eight home games.
"It's going to take everything we have," McGrady said. "But we have to go 5-0. We'll just put this one behind us and move on to the next one."
The Hornets led by 10 points halfway through the second quarter, but the Raptors went on a 14-6 run to close within two at halftime.
Notes: Should the Hornets and the Raptors finish tied for the eighth and final playoff spot, the Hornets would get the nod, winning the season series 2-1. ... The Hornets scored 28 points off 18 Toronto turnovers. ... On March 15, the Raptors and Hornets were at the bottom of the Central Division, tied with Chicago, all with six wins. ... Carter missed four minutes of the second quarter after losing a contact lens. ... The Hornets were just 4-11 before interim coach Paul Silas took over.
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