Toronto Raptors Team Report - December 23

(Basketball News) - Donyell Marshall came off the bench to post 22 points and eight rebounds as the Toronto Raptors held on for a 98-86 victory over the Utah Jazz at Air Canada Centre.

Chris Bosh added 18 points with eight boards for Toronto, which won its third straight home game. The Raptors’ third consecutive win over Utah gave them their first-ever season sweep of the Jazz.

In a move to boost his team’s work ethic, Toronto coach Sam Mitchell pulled Jalen Rose from the starting lineup and inserted the newly acquired Eric Williams. Rose provided a spark off the bench with all 12 of his points in the first half as Raptors opened up an early 15-point advantage.

Mehmet Okur’s basket in the final 30 seconds of the third made it a two-point game, but Lamond Murray’s dunk just over four minutes into the fourth capped a string of eight consecutive Toronto points.

Utah once again closed within three with under four minutes remaining before Marshall knocked down a key three-pointer to extend the lead to 84-77.

Marshall drained another trey two minutes later to make it 89-80, and the Raptors were able to hold on the rest of the way.

The Toronto Raptors return to action on Sunday against the red-hot Phoenix Suns.