Raptors win overshadowed by injury

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-12-18 15:45

The Toronto Raptors ran their winning streak to a season-high three games with a 120-115 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

The Raptors were in no mood to celebrate, however, following an injury to Jose Calderon with 32 seconds left in the game, the guard coming down awkwardly as he fought for a rebound, immediately grabbing his back and shouting for assistance.

Calderon, who helped Spain win the gold medal at the world championships in August, laid motionless on the court for several minutes while medical staff applied a neck brace and loaded him on to a stretcher.

As Calderon was taken out of Air Canada Centre he gave the crowd a wave before being transported to a local hospital.

The Raptors issued a statement saying Calderon had sustained a contusion to his left lower back and tests suggested no significant underlying bone, neurological or major organ damage.

Calderon will not, however, travel to Phoenix to face the Suns on Tuesday.

"The game, as important as it is, is not more important than Jose," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell told reporters.

Calderon's injury aside the Raptors had plenty to feel good about with six players, led by 23 points from Morris Peterson, hitting double figures to extend their win streak despite missing top player Chris Bosh due to a knee injury.

T.J. Ford, who sustained a spinal cord injury in his rookie season and missed the next year and half, added 21 points and 14 assists to the Toronto cause.

Andrea Bargnani, the number one overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft, continued his steady improvement, the Italian recording his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds while adding six blocks for good measure.

Jorge Garbajosa, another member of Spain's gold medal-winning team, also had a double-double, helping out with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Monta Ellis had a game-high 28 points for the Golden State.

*Gilbert Arenas poured in a team record 60 points, including 16 in overtime, to spark the Washington Wizards to a 147-141 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Arenas also pulled down eight rebounds and dished out eight assists as the streaking Wizards notched their sixth win in seven games.

Arenas's performance stole the spotlight from Lakers' Kobe Bryant, who scored 45 points and handed out 10 assists in the loss.

*Yao Ming hit a game-high 32 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Houston Rockets edged the Clippers 108-103 in Los Angeles to snap a three-game losing skid.

*Carlos Boozer bagged 18 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz past the Indiana Pacers 104-94 in Indianapolis.



Top Sports News  
Today's Top News  
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours