Turkoglu free throws lift Raptors over NBA champion

TORONTO: Hedo Turkoglu made two free throws with 1.2 seconds to play as Toronto edged the NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 106-105.

Andrea Bargnani scored 22 points, Chris Bosh and Jarrett Jack added 18 apiece and Marco Belinelli chipped in 15 for the Raptors, who improved to 6-0 at home this season against Western Conference opponents.

Turkoglu was the difference maker Sunday as he drove to the basket and drew a foul from Pau Gasol, calmly making both free throws.

"I was surprised. I thought I wasn't going to go to the line," Turkoglu said. "Usually I don't rely on that because sometimes you get calls and sometimes you don't. I just tried to take the best shot I could."

Gasol insisted he didn't foul Turkoglu on the decisive play.

"It was a questionable call," Gasol said. "I don't think I pushed him at all. My arm was on his back but I never pushed him. A tough call at a critical part of the game."

Kobe Bryant, who fell one assist short of his first triple-double of the season, missed a last-second attempt.

The Lakers superstar took an inbounds pass from Luke Walton, but his fadeaway jump shot hit the rim as the Lakers lost for the second time in the first three games of an eight-game road trip.

"I just wanted to get a good look," Bryant said. "I wanted to raise up, put enough arc on the ball. It felt pretty good, it just came up a little bit short."

Bryant finished with 27 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

Gasol scored 22 points, Andrew Bynum had 21 and Jordan Farmar 17 for the Lakers, who led through the first three quarters but couldn't finish off the win.

Farmar said the Lakers shouldn't make a habit of relying on last-gasp heroics from Bryant.

"He's the best finisher in the game, that's what he does," Farmar said. "He lives for those moments. We're happy to have him in those situations, we just don't want to put him there too much."

Bryant said the Lakers, whose next stop is in Washington on Tuesday, need to boost their energy.

"We're going through a malaise a little bit," Bryant said. "Things have kind of plateaud right now. At this stage of the season it happens, but you've still got to put a whole lot of effort and kick it into high gear and get it going."