Bosh, Raptors crush Wolves; Garnett charges Bonner

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/24hour/sports/...-9892171c.html

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

[VF21]

Okay, I'll admit it... Kevin Garnett scares the crap out of me.

[KP]

Originally Posted by VF21

Okay, I'll admit it... Kevin Garnett scares the crap out of me.

Why because Chris Bosh used him last night? Or because that little referee in the picture was able to hold him back? Just kidding, I use sarcastic remarkes to hide my fear.

[iheartBrad]

heart warming story

really wish i could of seen it...

wait...don't tell me Matt Bonner is that red headed white boy from New Hampshire?

if so..bahahhahahahaha...sounds to me like KG got punked...but then again i didn't see it

but good for the raptors for beating the wolves and good for the raptor fans who taunted but didn't go over the line

thanks for posting VF...this was my ha ha haha ha laugh for today

[HndsmCelt]

So the real question is why would a referee "hold back" a player and NOT eject them? Just wondering.

[VF21]

Celt - Because the player is scary? And seems to have a pass from all the officials?

...

Nah, that couldn't be it.

[VF21]

Originally Posted by VF21

AP PHOTO/Adrian Wyld

Perhaps a better cutline for the photo would be: Kevin Garnett, aka T-Rex, tries to decide which part of the official to bite first in Toronto Wednesday.

[LPKingsFan]

Originally Posted by HndsmCelt

So the real question is why would a referee "hold back" a player and NOT eject them? Just wondering.

Good question. I'm having flashbacks to last year's Peeler incident. See the "most hated teams other than Lakers" thread.

[SacTownKid]

First off the foul wasn't even that hard!!

Garnett is scary, he has the ability to impale people with his pointy head.

[HndsmCelt]

I have alwasy thought Garnet lookes like Stripe the lead Grimlin

[doone]

Does anyone have a video of that foul? Bojan? Ting? Anyone? I just wanna see Garnett get taken down! I hate that man so much.

[Evenstar]

damn KG has a really big head. that is scary

[TheSerbianQueen]

Originally Posted by VF21

Perhaps a better cutline for the photo would be: Kevin Garnett, aka T-Rex, tries to decide which part of the official to bite first in Toronto Wednesday.

I agree with you VF21...... that is ONE SCARY photo.....


As for the game (or the faul itself).... I saw it, and I was absolutely shocked that they would eject the little Raptor guy. The faul was not intentional at all, and the guy pretty much gets attacked by KG and Spree afterward, yet HE is the one to get ejected out of the game

[KP]

It might just be me, but it seems like someone is always able to hold this guy back.. He gets to the basket easy enough, no one can stop him from getting to the rim. But he never seems to get to the guy he supposedly wants to fight so bad. Hmm.. Don't think I'd get in his way, but you see my point right?

[Gargamel]

Originally Posted by SacTownKid

First off the foul wasn't even that hard!!

There's no way that was a flagrant. That's a joke. They called it after the fact because KG got his feelings hurt. Songaila's foul on Kobe was much harder. All Bonner did was grab KG's wrists as he went up for a dunk. There was no other contact with KG's head, body, whatever.

[VF21]

Originally Posted by KP

It might just be me, but it seems like someone is always able to hold this guy back.. He gets to the basket easy enough, no one can stop him from getting to the rim. But he never seems to get to the guy he supposedly wants to fight so bad. Hmm.. Don't think I'd get in his way, but you see my point right?

Hmmmmmm. Yes, I see your point.