Toronto Raptors Team Report - March 24

(Basketball News) - The Raptors didn’t go quietly, but still came up short, 94-85, at the hands of the Chicago Bulls at Air Canada Centre on Wednesday night.

Jalen Rose poured in a game-high 30 points with nine rebounds for the Raptors, who lost for the third time in four games. Rose finished the night 12-of-12 from the free throw line, and Rafer Alston had 15 points in the losing effort.

Rose is leading the Raptors with 17.8 points per contest, while Alston is tallying 14.1 points and a team-high 6.7 assists per contest.

Trailing 82-62 heading into the fourth quarter, the Raptors woke up and fought back to within eight with 6:10 left. Toronto wouldn’t get much closer down the stretch of the contest.

Toronto’s Donyell Marshall did not return for the fourth quarter and is listed as day-to-day with a lower back strain. Marshall is averaging 11.7 points and 6.7 rebounds per contest this season.

The Raptors managed just 31.8 percent from the field, including only 7-of-27 (.259) from three-point range. Toronto drained 24-of-29 (.857) from the charity stripe.

Toronto’s Rafael Araujo, the eighth pick in the draft, has lost his spot as the starting center. Araujo is expected to split time with Loren Woods during the stretch run.

The Raptors have their first two contests of a five-game road trip remaining this week. Toronto will be in Philadelphia on Friday before heading to Atlanta on Saturday.