PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Toronto Raptors rallied for a 128-123 overtime victory over the slumping Philadelphia 76ers Saturday to maintain their advantage for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Toronto's Chris Bosh, who had 28 points and 12 rebounds, and Jose Calderon played major roles in the win but not before Philadelphia had stormed back from a 17-point third-quarter deficit to take the lead with a minute to play in regulation.
Calderon hit a three-pointer with 42.9 seconds left to force overtime and Bosh delivered two key field goals in the extra session.
"It was a real good win for us, but we blew a big lead," Bosh told reporters. "We got a little complacent out there."
The Raptors (38-37) maintained their game-and-a-half lead over the Chicago Bulls in the race for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot. The Bulls (36-39) play the Charlotte Bobcats later Saturday.
"We had the momentum, but they went to a small lineup," Raptors coach Jay Triano said of Philadelphia's comeback.
"Then we had turnovers and they started making shots. But we figured a way to come back."
A loss could have been costly for the Raptors, who have seven games left in the regular season.
"I wouldn't want to imagine the (playoff) scenario if we lost that game," Bosh said.
Bosh broke a 122-122 tie with a layup with about two minutes left in overtime. His bank shot then gave the Raptors a 126-123 advantage.
Center Andrea Bargnani added 23 points and five other players joined Bosh in double figures.
Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 33 points and 11 assists but he scored only three points in the extra session, which Toronto dominated.
Rookie guard Jrue Holiday, whose jumper tied the score at 122-122 with two minutes to play, followed Iguodale in scoring with 25 points.
The loss was the 11th in 14 games for the 76ers (26-50), who are out of the playoff race.
"We got some key stops, but we couldn't get a rebound," said Philadelphia coach Eddie Jordan, whose team went more than 14 minutes at one stretch without an individual rebound.
Neither of their starting forwards, Elton Brand and Jason Kapono, had a rebound, Brand for the first time in 713 career NBA games.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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