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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:09 p.m., Tuesday, October 14, 2008

NBA: Bosh powers Raptors past CSKA Moscow in exhibition

Associated Press

TORONTO — Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell wasn't too impressed with his team's comeback victory over defending Euroleague champion CSKA Moscow.

Chris Bosh had 23 points and 10 rebounds, Jose Calderon added 14 points and six assists and the Raptors used a fourth-quarter surge to beat CSKA Moscow 86-78 in an exhibition game tonight.

Mitchell was upset because his top players had to stay on the court for much of the fourth to secure the win.

"We're working on certain things in practice and it is time to start applying them in the game," Mitchell said of his reserves. "We're coddling, we're pushing, we're pulling. We're not going to scream and yell, but charity time is almost over."

Andrea Bargnani and Jermaine O'Neal each scored 11 points for Toronto, but O'Neal said the Raptors didn't have enough intensity in the first half.

"We can't come out and allow teams to dictate the tempo, dictate the physical aspect of the game," O'Neal said. "In the third quarter we came out and responded, we did exactly what we talked about at the half. All in all, the second half was a lot better, the first half was very poor for our team."

The Raptors erased an nine-point halftime deficit to take a 60-58 lead after three quarters, then surged ahead with a 13-2 run to start the fourth, including six points from Bosh.

CSKA's Trajan Langdon, a former Duke standout, made two free throws to cut it to 80-76 with 1:53 left, but Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal scored on consecutive trips to keep the Raptors in front.

"They fell asleep a little bit and we were able to get a couple of easy buckets," Langdon said. "They're a good team and didn't want to allow us to squeak out with a win. They got it to their guys down low and made some plays."

Ramunas Siskauskas led CSKA with 15 points and Viktor Khryapa added 13 points and 11 rebounds. Ezarem Lorbek fouled out with 14 points and Langdon finished with 10.

Bosh said the Raptors aren't entirely comfortable with each other after four preseason games.

"We're still trying to feel each other out on defense and offense," Bosh said. "I wish I could snap my fingers and just play the basketball I know we're capable of playing, but we have to go through a rough patch because we're still trying to jell."

CSKA, which has reached six consecutive Euroleague Final Fours and won two of the past three titles, made it difficult for Toronto with strong shooting in the early going.

Toronto's Anthony Parker opened the scoring with a runner in the lane, but CSKA responded with a 7-0 run and scored 13 of the next 15 points to put the Raptors in an early hole. Siskauskas had nine points in the first quarter to give CSKA a 25-20 lead.

Toronto's second unit cut the gap to 40-38, but couldn't tie it before CSKA pulled away with five points from Zoran Planinic to take a 47-38 halftime lead.

After shooting 50 percent (19-for-38) in the first half, CSKA went cold in the third, going 4-for-17 from the field. Toronto tied it at 55 on Bosh's three-point play with 2:46 left in the quarter, then took its first lead since Parker's opening basket when Kapono made a pair of free throws.