Charlotte, 8-3 including three straight wins in its last 11, began the night 1 1/2 games behind eighth-place Chicago in the Eastern Conference as it upped the ante on its bid to land the first playoff berth in the team's five-year history.

Bosh led Toronto with 35 points and Andrea Bargnani got 27 for the Raptors, who have won only two of their last 11 and remain buried in 14th place in the East.

With Wallace leading an early charge, the Bobcats sliced through the Raptors to score from the paint time and again to build a quick 14-5 lead. Raptors coach Jay Triano sent a message when he pulled starter Shawn Marion in the fifth minute and temporarily sent in Joey Graham but little changed and Charlotte's lead grew to 33-24 by the end of the first quarter.

The Bobcats cooled off in the second quarter -- Wallace scored 12 points in the first but only one in the second without a single field goal attempt -- and Toronto came on strong. Bosh and Bargnani were doing the damage and the Raptors were within two, 52-50, at halftime.

Bosh was battered most times he got near the basket and was 14-for-14 to tie a club record for free-throw points in a half.

Toronto tied it in the opening minute of the third quarter and it was 54-54 when Wallace struck for a three-pointer. The 6-foot-7 Alabaman tacked on a layup for a 61-54 Charlotte edge, and the Bobcats wouldn't relinquish the lead again.

Bosh was having a great game and Bargnani was helping out big time with three-point bombs as Toronto closed the gap to 71-68. But Wallace buried another three-pointer and followed that by intercepting a pass and slam dunking the Bobcats to a 76-68 lead.

It was 82-70 after three quarters, leaving only one unanswered question: How many points would the Bobcats win by?

The answer was 13.

Wallace had scored 25 points in a 104-88 home win over Sacramento Wednesday after getting 25 in a 112-86 home win over Toronto Monday, and this was an even more impressive effort.

It was uncertain earlier in the day if he'd even play. He hurt his left knee during the win Wednesday. An MRI Thursday showed only a bruise so he was deemed fit enough to face the Raptors. While Diaw was just as effective in the points column, it was Wallace who turned the tide.

Wallace also had nine rebounds and eight assists.