So the Raptors after finishing the game @ 11 PM east and a hour later they were on a tar mat to get to Charlotte but instead the plane did not cooperate with them so they checked into a Memphis hotel for the night and were back at the airport @ 3 PM eastern to finally get a plane that got them out of Memphis. The problems did not end there as when they finally get to Charlotte and headed straight to the Arena and at just after 5:30 (a hour and a half before tip) a fire alarm was pulled and instead of being able to have their shoot around they had to evacuate the arena.
After all this the Raptors did have a great first half shooting 59% and leading at half by 10 53-43 with the Raptors having three players in double figures @ half including Bayless (11 points), Kleiza (11 points), and Derozan (10 points) but the Raptors really had a hard time keeping the ball as they had 11 turnovers in the half and the Bobcats shot 42%.
Then in the second half their heavy legs caught up to them as they were not strong enough to fight through the mental fatigue as the Cats shot well in the half especially the third quarter where they outscored the Raptors 38 (only 43 in the first half) - 14 as they took a 14 point lead 81-67 going into the fourth quarter as the Raptors had 10 turnover in the quarter. They were lead by D.J. Augustin had 11 points after having 9 in the first half while Corey Maggette had 10 points in the quarter after have 7 in the first half while had 7 points in the quarter.
The Raptors were able to get into reach of the lead in the fourth as the Bobcats had 15 point lead with less than 3 and a half minutes left in the game and the Raptors went on a 18-5 run late to get it to two points as Bayless had 6 of his 29 points in the last 3:30 before fouling out again while DeRozan had 4 of his 20 points during this run too. The Bobcats put their 6 straight victory in a row against the Raptors away with two free throws from D.J. Augustin who finished with 23 points.
The Raptors were given fouls like they were pieces of candy as they were given 36 fouls (bobcats 21) in the game as the Cats were hitting the floor every chance they got and it was more than the Raps rebounds which were 35 (+7) and ended up with 24 turnovers in the game.
The Raptors got a good performance from Jerryd Bayless who had 6 assists an 4 turnovers/steals (only one at half) while Andrea in 28 minutes had 11 points (9 in the first half) and 7 turnovers so he is still getting his game senses back and Ed Davis had 12 rebounds. The Bobcats who now have two of their 7 victories against the Raps got 14 of 14 from Corey Maggette from the line (20 points in the game) while Augestin had 11 assists and Gerald Henderson had 24 points in the game.
DeRozan got to the line 12 times and made 8 which is a good sign
Tom Mehegan
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