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January 25: Utah Jazz

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  • January 25: Utah Jazz

    ESPN preview:

    Be careful Andrea. The haters are watching and waiting!


    The Toronto Raptors snapped what had previously been their longest current losing streak against one opponent. One night later, they face the same challenge against a different team.

    Coming off their first victory in just over two weeks, the visiting Raptors look to avoid a 13th consecutive loss to the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.

    Not only did Toronto (5-13) snap its eight-game overall losing streak with a 99-96 win at Phoenix on Tuesday, but it ended a 14-game skid against the Suns.

    "Everybody played good together," said Toronto forward Andrea Bargnani, who scored 36 points in his first game after missing the previous six with a strained left calf. "We want to keep playing like this and having fun."

    With both of those dubious droughts in the past, the Raptors can now focus on trying to end a 12-game losing streak to Utah (10-5) -- currently the club's longest against one opponent. That's also the Jazz's longest active winning streak against any team.

    Toronto, which last beat the Jazz 98-86 at home Dec. 22, 2004, has dropped six in a row at Utah since a 104-95 win there Nov, 10, 2004.

    Though the Raptors rode a stellar performance from Bargnani while posting their second-highest point total of the season Tuesday, they could be in for a major challenge as they try to post back-to-back wins for only the second time in 2011-12.

    The Jazz have averaged 104.4 points and shot 50.4 percent while going 12-3 all-time at home against the Raptors. Utah also has won nine of 11 overall since a 1/3 start.

    Paul Millsap had 26 points with nine rebounds while Al Jefferson added 18 with 12 boards as the Jazz improved to 8-2 at home with a 108-98 victory over Minnesota on Saturday.

    "We're just trying to get better and trying to win games," Millsap said.

    Millsap remains a big reason for Utah's success, averaging 22.0 points and 9.1 rebounds in the last seven games.

    "Paul just continues to work to get better," coach Tyrone Corbin said. "As a result, we're better because he's so effective on the floor. He's been doing it all year."

    Millsap had 21 points, six rebounds and five assists during a 125-108 home win over Toronto on Nov. 3, 2010.

    Averaging 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds, Jefferson has scored 27.7 points per game in his last three contests against the Raptors. He had 34 in a 96-94 victory at Toronto on March 9.

    Bargnani missed that game for the Raptors, but posted 26 points and nine rebounds at Utah last season.

    Averaging a career-high 23.4 points this season, the 7-foot Bargnani scored 18 and went 4 of 5 from 3-point range during the third quarter Tuesday.

    "Andrea coming back makes everything easier for everybody else," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "He opens up the lane for (Leandro Barbosa) for layups, James (Johnson) to get in the lane and get offensive boards. He is kind of the hub for everybody to play off of."

    Bargnani has averaged 26.3 points during his last six road games.

  • #2
    It's going to be a long night!

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    • #3
      Anybody got a link to the game?

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      • #4
        bayless nice start. 4 assists now

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        • #5
          flord wrote: View Post
          Anybody got a link to the game?
          http://www.lshunter.tv/streams/1/lshnba1.html

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          • #6
            Anyone hear Bargnani scream at the end of the 2nd half? Never seen him do anything like that.

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            • #7
              Cool thanks!

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              • #8
                That was an amazing game....playoff like in intensity. Too bad AB got injured again. But the guys played tough. Casey has done a great job getting all buying in.

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                • #9
                  Kleiza = clutch. Am I alone here in liking his game? Everyone seems to call for his amnesty from this team.
                  Last edited by Balls of Steel; Thu Jan 26, 2012, 01:40 AM.
                  “The saving of our world from pending doom will come, not through the complacent adjustment of the conforming majority, but through the creative maladjustment of a nonconforming minority.” - Martin Luther King

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                  • #10
                    So many positives in this game. Kleiza was huge off the bench. Calderon had some clutch shots late. Bayless was passing the ball well, even if the shot still wasn't there. DeRozan with a bounce-back game. J Johnson with 6 blocks. A Johnson played well late, after looking like he would get owned by Kanter. Davis showed a bit of a spark in his few minutes. Butler inbounded the ball successfully. It's going to be a rough haul with Bargs out, but they need some positives like this every now and then.

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                    • #11
                      Bendit wrote: View Post
                      That was an amazing game....playoff like in intensity. Too bad AB got injured again. But the guys played tough. Casey has done a great job getting all buying in.
                      Probably the most impressive effort of the season. It was also great to see the supporting cast step up big after Bargs got hurt. That might have been a pretty significant team building moment. Now I doubt that the Raps are going to go on a crazy run and make the playoffs now, but those kinds of wins are a necessary part of making these guys believe that their hard work is paying off. Good to see them pull through!

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                      • #12
                        incredible game!!! Was awed at our clutchness tonight (kleiza and calderon!!!) Bargnani worked hard and got hurt as a result, give props to the guy he really wanted to be out there late! Incredible team effort, Derozan looked gassed but still managed a good offensive game, Barbosa helped overcome our deficit, calderon sent it to over time, and then kleiza took over!
                        The Baltic Beast is unstoppable!

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                        • #13
                          Balls of Steel wrote: View Post
                          Kleiza = clutch. Am I alone here in liking his game? Everyone seems to call for his amnesty from this team.
                          The guy's got a solid game. He can shoot it out to the 3, can play some 4 and is tough. His skill set is unique on this team and with Butler and Davis stinking it up right now, they're really going to need his production. I also think that unless he's traded and as long as he stays healthy and continues to play within himself, he can definitely be a useful piece of this team moving forward.

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                          • #14
                            Balls of Steel wrote: View Post
                            Kleiza = clutch. Am I alone here in liking his game? Everyone seems to call for his amnesty from this team.
                            You are not alone.

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                            • #15
                              Balls of Steel wrote: View Post
                              Kleiza = clutch. Am I alone here in liking his game? Everyone seems to call for his amnesty from this team.
                              I have always help out hop that he would find his groove in Toronto and be a solid contributor, he can play bigger than he is due to his strength and has a decent overall skill set. With Andrea looking like he will be out for an extended period, Klieza will see plenty of minutes and will br able to show us all what he can and can't do.
                              Twitter @WJ_FINDLAY

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