
The return of Chris Bosh might be what the Toronto Raptors need to end their longest losing streak of the season.
The struggling Raptors are expected to have their All-Star forward back from a knee injury as they look to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat when hosting the lowly Miami Heat on Wednesday night.Toronto (34-33), coming off a 96-79 loss at Utah on Monday to conclude an 0-5 road trip, has gone 2-8 with Bosh out.
"I've been working out for the past couple of days getting back in shape and my knee has responded pretty well," Bosh, the team leader with 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game, said on his Web site. "I'm really excited because I've been waiting for a while now, watching on the bench every game. I'm finally back now!"
Bosh had 24 points in Toronto's 114-82 win at Miami on Feb. 4, but did not play in the Raptors' 108-83 road victory over the Heat on March 5. Without Bosh, the Raptors allowed 108.4 points in their last 10 games - well above the 97.7 points opponents are averaging versus them in 2007-08.
Toronto, trying to secure one of the top four spots in the Eastern Conference and home-court advantage in the first-round of the playoffs, is currently fifth, 3 1/2 games back of fourth-place Cleveland, but just one-half game ahead of sixth-place Washington.
On Monday, Toronto's recent frustrations came to a head after Utah used a 24-4 fourth-quarter run to break open a close game. Raptors guard T.J. Ford received two technical fouls and was ejected after as he was restrained by teammates from charging at referee Eddie F. Rush, who called an offensive foul against him.
The Jazz shot 55.1 percent, while the Raptors were held to 40.0 percent shooting and their second-lowest scoring total of the season.
"Frustration, just frustration," Ford said. "We kept trying to fight and fight but things just weren't going our way."
Jose Calderon had 16 points, while Rasho Nesterovic added 13 and 12 rebounds for Toronto. Forward Andrea Bargnani scored just five points and continued to struggle, recording 16 total in his last three contests after averaging 16.8 in his previous five.
Bargnani left at the end of the third quarter after catching an elbow from teammate Jamario Moon, but could be back Wednesday as the Raptors try for a third straight win over the Heat.
Miami (12-54) snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 112-106 win at Milwaukee on Tuesday. Jason Williams had 21 points and 10 assists for Miami, which shot 51.3 percent for the game and outscored the Bucks 40-29 in the fourth quarter.
"It feels good to get a win, they're few and far between around here," Williams said.
As the Heat tries to win consecutive road games for the first time since Dec. 9-10, they will likely again be without forward Udonis Haslem, who is considering surgery on his sprained left ankle.
"There's an outside chance that he may have to have surgery, arthroscopic surgery to remove a spur," said Miami coach Pat Riley of Halsem, who averages 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds but has missed 16 of the last 21 games.
If he has the surgery, Haslem would join teammates Dwyane Wade (knee), Alonzo Mourning (knee) and Dorell Wright (knee) as those who have had their season end due to injury.