Toronto defeats New York

TORONTO — Even though the New York Knicks lost again, Larry Brown thinks they gained something Friday night.

Chris Bosh scored 29 points, and the Toronto Raptors beat the struggling Knicks 104-90 on Friday night — hours after the teams completed a trade.

Before the game, Toronto sent Jalen Rose to New York for Antonio Davis, a first-round draft pick and cash.

Rose and Davis did not play — Brown thought it would be unfair to throw Rose into action immediately. Rose sat on New York's bench wearing suit.

Brown said Rose will fill a need at small forward, a weakness for the Knicks all season.

"We tried but we just we have some deficiencies that hopefully Jalen will help alleviate," Brown said. "I think he'll take a lot of pressure off the perimeter people and make the big guys bigger."

The Knicks also could have used Stephon Marbury, who missed the game with a sore shoulder. Quentin Richardson also missed the second half with an ankle injury.

Eddy Curry scored 17 points for the Knicks, who have lost four straight and 10 of 11.

Their struggles began with a 129-103 loss to Toronto on Jan. 15, when Rose showcased his ability to post up smaller forwards by scoring a season-high 31 points.

Eight of New York's last 10 losses have been by 11 points or more.

Curry also said the 33-year-old Rose will make a difference.

"He can still play, he can go out there and put up numbers with the best of them," Curry said. "The sooner he becomes active within our system, the better it's going to be for us."

Rose said he'll be nervous when he makes his debut at home against Houston on Sunday.

He said he's going from one rebuilding situation to another, although he said the Knicks have a chance of winning sooner.

"I don't think it's a total rebuilding situation," Rose said.

BOBCATS 112, LAKERS 102: At Charlotte, N.C., Jumaine Jones scored a career-high 31 points to help Charlotte snap its franchise-record, 13-game losing streak with a shocker over Los Angeles. Jones, traded from the Lakers to Charlotte in late October, made all six of his shots in the first quarter to help the Bobcats open a 40-25 lead they never relinquished. He shot 13-of-20, made five 3-pointers, and had nine rebounds.