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March 05, 2006

Raptors spoil GM Colangelo's first game with 113-111 overtime loss to Hawks


The Toronto Raptors showed a willingness to play hard but lost 113-111 in overtime to the Atlanta Hawks, the first game for Bryan Colangelo's as the team's new president and general manager.

Hired just the day before, Colangelo received an ovation Wednesday when he was shown on the video board standing near the player's entrance where he watched the game. Joe Johnson and Al Harrington each scored 26 points for the Hawks, who also out-rebounded the Raptors 49-36 in front of 15,137 fans at Air Canada Centre.

Atlanta posted its third overtime win in its last four games after blowing a six-point advantage in the final 34 seconds of overtime.

"We got to try and win some of these games in regulation. This overtime thing is getting old," said Johnson, whose club is 4-1 in overtime and 19-37 overall.

Harrington fouled out in overtime, but Johnson made a key jumper with 1:04 left.

Harrington will take any victory - no matter how long it takes.

"We've won our last three that way. We'll take 26 more like that as long we win," Harrington said. "We never get discourage. We just play through our mistakes and that's the biggest difference."

Chris Bosh had 27 points and Charlie Villanueva added 25 for the Raptors, who have lost five straight.

"I know they were hungry and that it would be a great game - they wanted it more than us," said Villanueva about the Raptors failed attempt to sweep the four-game series with the Hawks

Colangelo, last year's NBA Executive of the Year with the Phoenix Suns, said on Tuesday that everyone is starting from a clean slate and changes, if any, within the coaching or player ranks will not be immediate.

"I like playing for coach," said Mo Peterson in support of Raptors coach Sam Mitchell. "And I'm pretty sure if you go around this locker room they'll tell you they like playing for him."

Notes: Bosh all but confirmed he's one of 22 players invited to the U.S. national team's training camp this summer. "I expect to be there," Bosh said. ... Toronto centre Antonio Davis missed the game with a strained back. He was fouled on a drive and fell hard in Monday's game at Miami . . . Toronto is 1-6 in overtime games this season . . . Four Raptors scored 20-plus for second time in three games. That feat had never been accomplished before Saturday's game in Minnesota.

Posted by admin at March 5, 2006 02:40 PM

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