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NBA -- Raptors clip Hornets, 92-74 By Ananias Diaz PhilBoxing.com Thu, 09 Apr 2015 CHARLOTTE -- For Hornets fans, this was a painful game to watch. Badly needing a win at home to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, Charlotte?s chances instead melted like butter over a fire after losing to the Toronto Raptors, 92-74, at the Time Warner Cable Arena. The Hornets opened the game shooting an anemic 27.3 percent, making just 6 out 22 shots to score 15 points at the end of the opening quarter. The woeful shooting continued until the end of the third period as Charlotte failed to score over 16 points in each of the 3 quarters (16 in the second and only 14 in the third quarter). They improved in the last quarter but the outcome of the game was never in doubt at that time as the Raptors who have already clinched a playoffs berth defeated the Hornets for the first time in seven games. Toronto led by 28 points in the third quarter and had a 69-45 advantage going into the fourth. Hornets coach Steve Clifford waved the white flag with about 5 1/2 minutes left and his team behind by 23 points. He inserted little-used guard Troy Daniels and playing all reserves. DeMar DeRozan had an easy night scoring 18 points for Toronto as Hornets main defensive stopper Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is still out (left ankle sprain). Lou Williams contributed 16 points off the bench and Greivis Vasquez, who started in place of the injured all-star point guard Kyle Lowry had 16 points as well. Former Tar Heel star Tyler Hansbrough added 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 15 points and Mo Williams added 10 points for Charlotte that continued to play without their three starters (Kidd-Gilchrist, Al Jefferson and Cody Zeller) due to various injuries. Lance Stephenson was also out with an injury for the Hornets. He arrived at Time Warner Cable Arena wearing a protective boot. Clifford said it's possible Stephenson will miss time beyond Wednesday's game. "It was an all-around game against a depleted team," Casey said. "It's a good `W,' but they had a lot of their guys out. We've got to keep that same focus. Consistency is what we've been building for. It's one game, so let's do it again.? The Hornets will play its last game of the season at Toronto on April 15. "We just had no juice," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford said. "We're going to have to find a way to be professional. I think our team has stood for effort and purposeful play all year long, and we're going to have to find a way to do that over these last four games." The Hornets are 11th in the Eastern Conference, three games out of the eighth and final playoff spot. With the loss, the Hornets are almost done for the season with only 4 games left. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ananias Diaz. |
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