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Bosh, Raptors stun Timberwolves; Garnett charges Bonner
The Associated Press
Last Updated 11:43 pm PST Wednesday, December 15, 2004
TORONTO (AP) - Kevin Garnett didn't like it when Matt Bonner took him down and celebrated, so Garnett went after him.
Chris Bosh had a season-high 24 points and 14 rebounds in Toronto's 96-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, in a game where the Raptors' Bonner was ejected for flagrantly fouling Garnett. After Bonner knocked Garnett to the floor with 5:24 left in the fourth, Garnett charged the rookie forward. Official Anthony Jordan and Raptors coach Sam Mitchell held Garnett back, but Latrell Sprewell ran toward Bonner and pushed him.
"It was a hard foul. That really didn't even spark me until I saw him pointing into the crowd like he's some enforcer," Garnett said.
Bonner was ejected, and Sprewell received a technical foul.
Fans chanted "Bonner! Bonner!" and heckled Garnett, but nothing else came of the confrontation.
Bonner, called 'Opie' by his teammates, thanked Mitchell after the game.
"I think his life flashed in front of his eyes when Latrell Sprewell and Kevin Garnett went running at him," Mitchell said. "After the game he told me 'Way to grab Kevin, coach.' I told him, 'You know what Matt, way to get out of the way."'
Bonner could receive a one-game suspension for the flagrant foul, but he thinks he won't get anything once the league sees the replay.
"I would never try to play dirty like that," Bonner said.
Bonner, a fan favorite, slapped hands with the fans as he left the court.
"I felt a lot of pride for myself, the team, the whole city of Toronto that they support me so much," said Bonner, who said he's never been ejected before in his life. "I feel honored."
Bosh, who patterned his game after Garnett, came within one point and one rebound of career highs. The second-year forward, who has struggled recently, finished 11-of-21 from the field for the Raptors, who ended a seven-game losing streak.
"It was real big, not only to win the game but to be an important part if it, it's real special to me," Bosh said.
Garnett had 23 points and 15 rebounds, but made just 9 of 27 shots.
After Bonner's ejection brought the crowd to life, Toronto's Morris Peterson made an empathic dunk to give the Raptors an 87-81 lead with 4:47 left.
Bosh beat Garnett off the dribble and made a reverse layup to make it a 10-point lead with 3:31 remaining and Peterson followed with a 3-pointer for an 11-point advantage.
Peterson added a season-high 19 points for the Raptors, who hadn't won since beating Miami on Nov. 30.
Toronto's Jalen Rose, who has struggled since his name came up in trade talks, went 1-of-4 from the field for just four points.
Notes: Toronto general manager Rob Babcock spent 12 years with the Timberwolves before being hired by the Raptors this past summer. ... Mitchell played 12 season in Minnesota. Garnett considered him a mentor. ... Bosh reached career highs in field goals and field goals attempts after going just 13-of-39 in his previous four games.
A referee holds back Minnesota Timberwolves Kevin Garnett after a fragrant foul by Toronto Raptors Matt Bonner in Toronto Wednesday. AP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld
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Originally Posted by VF21
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