Toronto: The Toronto Raptors eked out a 106-105 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers after Kobe Bryant missed a three-pointer just before the buzzer on Sunday.
Hedo Turkoglu made two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play as the Raptors scored the game's final five points to claim a ninth win in their last 10 home games.
"I always have confidence," Turkoglu said. "I know I have been struggling lately shooting the ball but I don't let it get to me. I try to put those behind and try to still play my game."
Down 105-101 with less than two minutes to play, Toronto turned to Andrea Bargnani for a field goal and free throw before Turkoglu delivered the winning free throws.
Bargnani wound up with 22 points with Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack both scoring 18. Turkoglu had nine.
Bryant led the Lakers with a game-high 27 points despite playing with a broken right index finger. He also had 16 rebounds and nine assists but will be disappointed to have missed his most imprtant shot of the game as time expired.
Los Angeles led by 10 points in the third quarter before the Raptors rallied.
"They played some rabid, tenacious defence from about the middle of the third quarter on," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "They did a good job of turning the ball over and getting run-outs from it." The win was the 15th in 21 home games for the Raptors this season.
"We think that we're playing pretty well and we're confident," coach Jay Triano said.
"There were a couple of times today when we could have folded, we got down eight, nine points and we never did.
"Our guys just kept battling, we fought for more stops, we attacked the basket offensively, we weren't intimidated."
Results
home team in CAPS
Dallas 128 NY KNICKS 78
LA Clippers 92 WASH'TON 78
TORONTO 106 LA Lakers 105
