Raptors lose; Bulls 1 game out of 8th

The Bulls caught a break in the playoff race Sunday when Toronto lost at home 113-112 to Golden State, one of the NBA’s worst teams.

The Warriors (23-53) led by 16 points with just under seven minutes remaining. After a furious comeback, the Raptors missed a chance for a miracle finish when they stole a late inbounds pass, but Chris Bosh botched a lay up as time expired.

With the win, Golden State coach Don Nelson tied Lenny Wilkens for the most coaching victories in NBA history.

The Warriors missed 4 free throws in the final minute, giving Toronto a chance to tie the score with a 3-pointer. Nelson decided to play the preemptive foul game and the teams combined to make 10 foul shots in the final 10 seconds.

Bosh was at the line with 2.9 seconds left while the Raptors trailed 113-110. After making the first, everyone expected Bosh to miss the second shot on purpose, but he swished it. Golden State was out of time outs and had to inbound the ball at the baseline.

The toss for rookie Stephen Curry was deflected, then saved inbounds by Toronto’s Sonny Weems. The former Bulls second-round pick threw the ball blindly behind his back as he was falling out of bounds and it went straight to Bosh in the middle of the lane. He took a step and put up a left-hand lay up that would have won the game, but it bounced off the rim.

Bosh finished with 42 points, 12 rebounds and 5 steals, going 20 for 23 at the foul line. Golden State, which played without guard Monta Ellis, was led by Corey Maggette with 31 points and Curry with 29.

The Bulls and Raptors have six games remaining, including one against each other next Sunday at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto has already clinched the season series against the Bulls, but its next three games are at Cleveland, home against Boston and at Atlanta.

This week, the Bulls play Milwaukee and Cleveland at home, then visit New Jersey.