TORONTO (AP) -- Size made the difference as the New Orleans
Hornets overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors.
Baron Davis scored 22 points and the Hornets outrebounded the
Raptors by a wide margin in a 86-74 victory Friday night.
P.J. Brown had 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Jamaal Magloire
added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Hornets, who outrebounded
Toronto 51-32 -- including 15-4 on the offensive glass. New Orleans
has won two straight road games after losing its previous four.
"We've never had the size or the bulk to bang with those
guys," Toronto's Alvin Williams said. "They took it to us on our
own court. They came out very aggressive, we came out passive and
missed shots. We became hesitant and it went downhill from there."
Vince Carter had 22 points for the Raptors, who never led in
losing for the seventh time in 10 games. Jalen Rose went 1-for-8
from the field for just two points, while Donyell Marshall went
2-for-6 for nine points.
Rookie Chris Bosh, Toronto's starting center, had just three
points and three rebounds.
"We didn't have to do anything but throw the ball down low and
play good defense," Davis said.
Magloire, who is from Toronto, had seven points as the New
Orleans took a 15-4 lead in the first quarter. Davis' jumper and
3-pointer gave the Hornets a 24-point lead entering halftime.
"It was probably the best half of basketball we've played this
year," New Orleans coach Tim Floyd said. "We established an
inside presence."
Jumpers by Brown and Davis gave New Orleans a 28-point lead
early in the third quarter -- the biggest of the game.
Carter made a 3-pointer and Marshall made two free throws to cut
New Orleans' lead to 12 with just under three minutes left, but
Davis made a layup to give the Hornets a 14-point lead with 1:50
remaining.
Magloire said his team can beat an opponent in different ways.
"We have size on our team, but we also have a good balance,"
said Magloire, whose team is 2{ games behind Indiana for first
place in the Eastern Conference. "Baron Davis and David Wesley can
shoot the ball, and P.J. and myself provide presence and
rebounding. We can use inside or outside to our advantage depending
on who we play."
Game notes
The Raptors traded center Mengke Bateer to the Orlando
Magic for forward Robert Archibald. Toronto also sent Orlando the
rights to 2003 second-round draft choice Remon Van de Hare and the
option to swap second-round draft positions at the 2005 draft. ...
New Orleans' David West had 10 points and six rebounds. ... George
Lynch and Stacey Augmon, who both did a nice job guarding Carter,
combined to hold Paul Pierce to 14 points in Wednesday's victory
over Boston.