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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Maybe the Toronto Raptors don't really need a
point guard.
| | Tracy McGrady scores two of his 20 points from extremely close range. |
Vince Carter scored 23 points and five other Raptors reached double figures as Toronto beat the Miami Heat 108-93 Friday night.
With starting point guard Alvin Williams day-to-day with a sprained ankle, the Raptors have Carter and Doug Christie in the backcourt. Christie, playing the point, had 15 points and five
assists.
"Playing a 6-5 point guard created some mismatches," Miami
coach Pat Riley said. "They outplayed us in every position. They
handed us our heads on a platter."
Tracy McGrady had 20 points and Antonio Davis, questionable
until gametime with back spasms, added 17 points and 12 rebounds.
Dell Curry had 11 points in his first start since Dec. 6, 1997,
and Charles Oakley had 10 points and seven assists for the Raptors.
"We moved the ball up the court quickly. We've been practicing
that, and it's been working," Oakley said.
The Raptors, who have been trying to acquire a point guard, won
their third in a row following a three-game losing streak.
Before the game, Toronto coach Butch Carter said if Christie and
Carter play well at the guard positions, Williams might lose his
starting job.
"Whatever the team needs," Christie said. "In practice Butch
has been putting shorter time on the clock. He'll give us 14
seconds and say go run the play. My biggest thing is getting it and
turning and just going and seeing if anything is there. If
something is there I'm kicking it out or dropping it in."
Heat point guard Tim Hardaway, activated off the injured list last week after missing a month with a jammed right knee, had just
two assists and nine points. Hardaway is 6 feet tall.
"We had trouble with Toronto's size and athleticism," Riley said.
Alonzo Mourning scored 26 points for the Heat, who are 11-11 since opening the season 14-4.
Davis dunked over Mourning in the third quarter for a 76-68
Raptors lead. Davis then hit four consecutive free throws to put
Toronto up by 10 midway through the quarter.
"When a guy like Alonzo Mourning comes in, I will try my best to come back," Davis said. "Nothing was going to stop me."
Davis' free throws came during a 26-10 run, with Curry scoring
seven points in a two-minute span.
Curry hit two jumpers, and his 3-pointer with 6:21 remaining
gave Toronto a 102-81 lead.
Carter scored 16 points as the Raptors led 61-51 at the half.
Game notes Dennis Rodman might sign with the Dallas Mavericks soon,
but his agent, Steve Chasman, claims there are two other teams in
warm-weather cities that are interested in him. He has refused to
name them. Asked if Miami was one of the teams, Riley said: "He
was talking about warm-weather planets -- Mars and Mercury." ...
McGrady is the subject of trade rumors, but the Raptors say the 20-year-old player is not available. "It's in the interest of every team in this league to mention the kid's name, but he's not allowing it to
become a distraction," coach Carter said.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Miami Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 91 Phoenix 88
Toronto 108 Miami 93
Atlanta 98 New York 96
Sacramento 102 Chicago 90
Denver 104 Houston 98
LA Lakers 117 Milwaukee 89
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