Raptors can’t run with the Bulls, lose 104-97
Snell leads Chicago’s surge in final 17 minutes
• Tony Snell and Pau Gasol each had 22 points, Derrick Rose added 20 and the Chicago Bulls pulled away late for a 104- 97 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.
Snell, who was back in the rotation because of an injury to Doug McDermott, had 19 points in the final 171/2 minutes to spark the Bulls.
Aaron Brooks had 17 points and rookie Bobby Portis added 12 as the Chicago reserves outscored their counterparts 51-27.
Kyle Lowry had 28 points and played 40 minutes. DeMar DeRozan added 19 points for Toronto.
The Bulls have won the last six matchups with the Raptors. They meet again Sunday afternoon at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors haven’t beaten the Bulls since Dec. 31, 2013.
Jonas Valanciunas r eturned to the Raptors’ lineup after missing 17 games with a broken left hand. Valanciunas came off the bench, playing 21 minutes. He had nine points, four rebounds and two blocks.
Valanciunas was injured Nov. 20 against the Los Angeles Lakers. In 14 games, Valanciunas averaged 12.7 points and 9.3 rebounds. He leads Toronto with five doubledoubles.
Coach Dwane Casey said before the game Valanciunas would play in “short stints.” He played the last half of the first and third quarters, five minutes in the second and a couple of minutes late in the fourth after Chicago had taken a double-digit lead.
Despite leading the Atlantic Division, the loss moved the Raptors down to fifth overall in the Eastern Conference at 19-13, percentage points behind Indiana and Miami who are 18- 12. The Bulls ( 17- 12), Orlando and Boston ( both 18-13) are just a half- game behind Toronto. Just 31/2 games separate first place and 10th place in the improving East.
Toronto plays its next three games at home starting Wednesday versus the Washington Wizards.