Toronto Raptors Team Report - February 26

(Basketball News) - The Toronto Raptors fell to the Washington Wizards, 76-74, on Wednesday at Air Canada Centre.

Donyell Marshall had 20 points and Chris Bosh contributed 15 and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who extended their season-high losing streak to seven games. Morris Peterson chipped in 13 points in the setback.

Toronto trailed by six after three, but scored the first five points of the fourth quarter to pull within 56-55. Marshall’s three-point play capped a 23-9 Raptors’ surge that bridged the thirds and fourth periods.

The game stayed close and the Raptors took a 62-60 advantage on a pair of free throws by Jerome Moiso with 6:57 left. Washington then reeled off six of the next seven points, capped by Gilbert Arenas’ jumper, to grab a 66-63 edge with 4:55 remaining.

Jerry Stackhouse’s jumper with 2:58 left in the game made it a 73-69 contest, but Peterson answered shortly after with a three-pointer to bring Toronto within one. After each team missed, Stackhouse was fouled with 1:17 left and he made both free throws to give the Wizards a 75-72 lead.

Marshall countered at the other end to again bring the Raptors within one with a jump hook and Bosh then grabbed Kwame Brown’s miss with 35 seconds left. Roger Mason Jr. had a chance to put Toronto ahead, but his reverse layup was off the mark. Stackhouse grabbed the loose ball and gave his team a 76-74 lead as he made just 1-of-2 from the foul line with 13.9 seconds left.

The Raptors worked the clock down, but Jannero Pargo’s desperation three- pointer just before time ran out fell short.

Toronto is off until Friday when it visits the Boston Celtics in the first of a home-and-home set. The teams will also play on Sunday at Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors and Celtics will meet for the third time this season on Friday. Toronto beat Boston, 105-95, on December 3, 2003, at Air Canada Centre, while the Celtics defeated the Raptors, 114-111, on December 13 at the FleetCenter.

Bosh has scored in double digits in four straight games. He is averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in that span.