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Raptors win in OT after Ruffin error
2007-03-31
Talk about leaving things up for grabs. The Washington Wizards were on the verge of a victory when Michael Ruffin threw the ball -- and ultimately, the game -- away. Muzi.com News 10040146-0 (muzi.com)Ruffin made a steal but then tossed the ball into the air, apparently thinking the clock was about to expire. Instead, Morris Peterson came down with it and heaved it in just before the buzzer, and the Toronto Raptors went on to a 123-118 overtime victory Friday night. Muzi.com News 10040146-1 (muzi.com) "Just wild stuff," Raptors star Chris Bosh said. "I don't know, man, you've got to go to the libraries on that one. I took Mo's shot as a second chance for us. When stuff happens like that, you've got to win. You have to try your best and play as hard as you can because the basketball gods were looking out for us." Muzi.com News 10040146-2 (muzi.com) Kobe Bryant also made a 3-pointer to force overtime in another 50-point game, but it wasn't enough for the Los Angeles Lakers. The Houston Rockets overcame his 53 points, winning 107-104 behind Yao Ming's 39. Muzi.com News 10040146-3 (muzi.com) "I was fine on our defense on Bryant," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "There's only so much you can do." Muzi.com News 10040146-4 (muzi.com) In other games, it was: Philadelphia 88, Boston 82; Charlotte 97, Milwaukee 81; Miami 92, Minnesota 77; San Antonio 102, Utah 93; Detroit 110, New Jersey 105; Orlando 95, Indiana 87; Dallas 105, New York 103; Phoenix 125, Denver 108; Seattle 120, Memphis 93; and the Los Angeles Clippers 105, Sacramento 101. Muzi.com News 10040146-5 (muzi.com) At Los Angeles, Bryant scored 17 points in the final 4:07 of regulation, including a 3-pointer that tied it at 95. He scored 25 of the Lakers' final 28 points and finished 19-of-44 from the field in his fifth 50-point outing in seven games. Muzi.com News 10040146-6 (muzi.com) But that couldn't compare to the wacky ending in Washington. Ruffin intercepted Anthony Parker's inbounds pass from underneath the Wizards' basket near midcourt and flung the ball high into the air with 1.1 seconds left. Muzi.com News 10040146-7 (muzi.com) "It was just a natural reaction to throw it in the air," Ruffin said. "I was thinking the time would run out. I guess there ended up being more time than I expected, and I didn't have a good hold on the ball. I threw it off my palm." Muzi.com News 10040146-8 (muzi.com) Peterson grabbed it to the left side, well beyond the 3-point line. Muzi.com News 10040146-9 (muzi.com) "When I saw (Ruffin) tip it, I looked and I saw I had a chance to get it and it turned out the ball just came to me," said Peterson, who played only the final 4.4 seconds of regulation and the last 47 seconds of overtime. "I looked at the clock real quick and there was like one second, and I just threw it up. Thankfully it went in, gave us another chance -- gave us another win, and I'll take it." Muzi.com News 10040146-10 (muzi.com) So did the Raptors, who are third in the Eastern Conference and dropped the Wizards to sixth. Bosh scored 37 points for Toronto, while Gilbert Arenas had 34 for stunned Washington. Muzi.com News 10040146-11 (muzi.com) "It was like watching an NCAA tournament game, and it felt like one," Arenas said. "It's hard to lose one like that." Muzi.com News 10040146-12 (muzi.com) Mavericks 105, Knicks 103 Muzi.com News 10040146-13 (muzi.com) At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, with nine straight in the final 1:56, and the Mavericks overcame Stephon Marbury's season-high 43 points for their franchise-record 61st victory. Muzi.com News 10040146-14 (muzi.com) The Mavericks, the top team in the NBA, have won nine straight games. Muzi.com News 10040146-15 (muzi.com) Spurs 102, Jazz 93 Muzi.com News 10040146-16 (muzi.com) Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, and San Antonio beat Utah for its sixth straight victory. Muzi.com News 10040146-17 (muzi.com) Tony Parker added 23 points and 11 assists, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 14 rebounds, and Michael Finley had 12 points as San Antonio snapped Utah's three-game winning streak. The Spurs have won 16 straight at home against the Jazz. Muzi.com News 10040146-18 (muzi.com) Suns 125, Nuggets 108 Muzi.com News 10040146-19 (muzi.com) At Phoenix, All-Star Shawn Marion snapped out of a prolonged shooting slump with 33 points, and the Suns overcame an 18-point deficit in their 54th win, matching last season's total. Muzi.com News 10040146-20 (muzi.com) Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 32 points and 10 rebounds. Muzi.com News 10040146-21 (muzi.com) Clippers 105, Kings 101 Muzi.com News 10040146-22 (muzi.com) Cuttino Mobley scored 26 points for the rejuvenated Clippers, who snapped a 17-game losing streak in Sacramento, dating to Nov. 7, 1997. They won for the fifth time in six games and moved a half-game behind seventh-place Denver. Muzi.com News 10040146-23 (muzi.com) Pistons 110, Nets 105 Muzi.com News 10040146-24 (muzi.com) At Auburn Hills, Mich., Chauncey Billups had 32 points and 14 assists, while Lindsey Hunter and Antonio McDyess combined for 22 fourth-quarter points. Muzi.com News 10040146-25 (muzi.com) Magic 95, Pacers 87 Muzi.com News 10040146-26 (muzi.com) At Orlando, Fla., Grant Hill scored 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter in the Magic's third win in 10 days against the three teams they are fighting for the last two postseason spots in the East. Muzi.com News 10040146-27 (muzi.com) Jamaal Tinsley had 27 points on 11-for-13 shooting and a season-high 10 rebounds, but Indiana lost for the 17th time in 19 games. Muzi.com News 10040146-28 (muzi.com) Heat 92, Timberwolves 77 Muzi.com News 10040146-29 (muzi.com) At Minneapolis, Udonis Haslem had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and all five starters scored at least 15 points for Miami, which led from start to finish. Muzi.com News 10040146-30 (muzi.com) Kevin Garnett had 22 points and 20 rebounds for the Timberwolves (30-42), who went a miserable 2-for-18 from 3-point range and guaranteed they'll finish with a losing record for the second straight season. Muzi.com News 10040146-31 (muzi.com) SuperSonics 120, Grizzlies 93 Muzi.com News 10040146-32 (muzi.com) At Seattle, Nick Collison scored 22 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, Rashard Lewis added 21 points, and the SuperSonics raced to their third straight win while snapping the Grizzlies' only win streak of their disappointing season. Muzi.com News 10040146-33 (muzi.com) Bobcats 97, Bucks 81 Muzi.com News 10040146-34 (muzi.com) At Charlotte, N.C., Gerald Wallace scored 24 points and Walter Herrmann had a career-high 23 to lead the Bobcats to their first victory over Milwaukee in 10 meetings. Muzi.com News 10040146-35 (muzi.com) Ruben Patterson scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and Michael Redd was held to 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting for Milwaukee, which lost its fifth straight. Muzi.com News 10040146-36 (muzi.com) 76ers 88, Celtics 82 Muzi.com News 10040146-37 (muzi.com) Kyle Korver scored 26 points, helping Philadelphia avoid a second-half collapse and beat visiting Boston. Muzi.com News 10040146-38 (muzi.com) Al Jefferson scored 20 points for the Celtics, who played without leading scorer Paul Pierce (left elbow soreness). The Celtics (22-50) are 2-23 this season without Pierce, who earlier missed 24 games with a left foot stress reaction.Muzi.com News 10040146-39 (muzi.com)
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