Humphries Has Double-Double As Raptors Top Mavs 92-76

Kris Humphries came off the bench to give the Toronto Raptors a spark with a double-double 16 points, and a game high 12 boards, and Toronto beat the Dallas Mavericks for the first time since 2003 Wednesday 92-76. It was Toronto’s third consecutive win and they kept the usually high scoring Mavericks to a season low 76 points as they shot a less than stellar 38.5% from the floor for the game. The Raptors last defeated Dallas on November 6, 2003, also a low scoring affair 77-71.

The first quarter was competitive as Toronto led at the end of the period 21-17, but had opened up the lead to 54-36 at the half. Dallas was able to shave 2 points by the end of the third quarter as they trailed 75-59, but the Mavericks were never really a threat to come back.

Toronto had five players in double figures led by Chris Bosh, who scored 17 points, shooting 7-11 from the field, and 3-4 at the line, with 5 rebounds, 1 blocked shot, 1 assist, 1 steal. Humphries now in his second season playing for Toronto, after spending his first two years in the NBA with Utah, and has turned into a nice complimentary player for the Raptors, also had 2 blocked shots. Jose Calderon starting for the injured T.J. Ford had 12 points, a game high 7 assists, 1 steal, 1 rebound, center Rasho Nesterovic and Carlos Delfino each scored 10 for Toronto.

Dallas had just three players in double figures led by game high scorer Jason Terry who shot 7-11 from the floor, 2-3 from outside the arc, and 5-6 from the line for 21 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds. Josh Howard scored 19 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, but had to leave the game in the third quarter after getting poked in the eye. Dirk Nowitzki, had 13 points, 9 boards, 5 assists, Devin Harris the Mavericks talented young point guard did not dress for the game as he battled with a bout of the stomach flu.

What may have been the highlight of the evening came at the beginning of the second quarter. TJ Ford who was wheeled out of the arena in Atlanta on a stretcher Tuesday night, walked over to the Raptors bench to sit with his teammates. Ford who missed the 2004-2005 season recovering from spinal surgery, fell backwards Tuesday night after being fouled by Hawks forward Al Horford. Ford spent the afternoon Wednesday in an Atlanta hospital, before fling back to Toronto for the game. Ford did not move once he hit the floor Tuesday, and to see him up and around brought the Toronto crowd to their feet! Toronto after the win is now 13-10, Dallas is 14-9.