Gray, Bulls fall short
TORONTO -- Andrea Bargnani scored 19 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 92-82 preseason victory over the Bulls on Friday night.
Juan Dixon added 17 points, Rasho Nesterovic had 12 and newcomer Jamario Moon finished with 10 as the Raptors (3-2) played just their second exhibition game against an NBA opponent. Toronto played three European teams as part of the NBA Europe Live Tour.
Aaron Gray scored 14 points for the Bulls (2-2), while Andres Nocioni added 12.
The Raptors led by as many as 20 points, and were up 71-54 entering the fourth quarter. Viktor Khryapa's basket with 2:09 left cut Toronto's lead to 87-78, but 2 free throws by Darrick Martin and a 3-pointer by Dixon with 29 seconds left secured the victory for the Raptors.
With only two preseason games left to evaluate his roster, Raptors coach Sam Mitchell rested his starters for much of the game and gave newcomers Moon and Carlos Delfino significant playing time.
Moon, who most recently played with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association, displayed the athleticism he's known for. In a brief burst in the second quarter, Moon, who had played a total of 15 minutes in the four previous exhibition games, scored on an alley-oop dunk off a pass from Martin, on a driving layup and then went up for a big block on Tyrus Thomas.
Delfino finished with 3 points on 1-for-7 shooting and 4 assists.
Raptors all-star forward Chris Bosh missed his third straight preseason game with a nagging left knee injury, while Jorge Garbajosa, who missed the end of last season with a devastating ankle injury, dressed but didn't play although Toronto's medical staff said he was fine.
Bulls guard Ben Gordon sat out with a sprained ankle, while forward Ben Wallace was listed as inactive.
Bulls pick up options: The Bulls announced they have picked up the options on the 2008-09 contracts of forward Tyrus Thomas and guard Thabo Sefolosha.
That means that both players will be under contract to the Bulls for the 2008-09 season.
Thomas (6-feet-9, 215 pounds) appeared in 72 games last year for the Bulls and averaged 5.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game.
He was selected to the 2006-07 T-Mobile NBA All-Rookie second team. Thomas was drafted in the first round (fourth overall) by Portland in 2006 NBA draft and was traded to the Bulls along with Viktor Khryapa for the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge.
Sefolosha (6-7, 215) played in 71 games last year and averaged 3.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per game.
Sefolosha was selected in the first round (13th overall) by Philadelphia in the 2006 NBA draft was traded to the Bulls in a draft-day deal for the rights to Rodney Carney and cash considerations.