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  Monday, Apr. 10 7:00pm ET
Carter scores 31, McGrady adds 27
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

TORONTO (AP) -- Vince Carter did it all Monday night and wound up with his first career triple-double.

Carter went 13-of-19 from the field and scored 31 points, had 11 rebounds and added a career-high 10 assists as the Toronto Raptors inched closer to their first playoff berth with a 112-103 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Vince Carter
Toronto's Vince Carter, who scored a game-high 31 points, eludes the defense of Cleveland's Cedric Henderson.

Toronto (43-34) moved within one win or one Milwaukee loss of clinching a postseason spot. The Bucks defeated Orlando 104-87 Monday.

"We still have to play like we're not there yet," said Carter, who didn't record a triple-double in college. "My senior year of high school I almost averaged a triple-double, so that was probably the last time.

"I've been wanting this for a long time. I've never accomplished in my career, and hopefully I'll get a lot more of them."

Tracy McGrady had 27 points, a career-high nine assists and six blocks as the Raptors ended a four-game home losing streak by beating Cleveland for the fifth straight time.

"I played well, Vince played well. It's going to take a lot to beat us. Everybody did it tonight," McGrady said. "Defense was the key. When I'm doing it on defense, the offense will be there."

Antonio Davis had 14 points and four blocks, while Charles Oakley added 10 rebounds.

Shawn Kemp had 22 points for Cleveland, Bob Sura 19 and Lamond Murray 16.

"They have a couple young guys who can put up the numbers," Kemp said. "If you don't stop them early, they can keep it going for four quarters."

Carter gave the Raptors, guaranteed of their first winning season since joining the league five seasons ago, a 21-18 lead on a 3-pointer 7:25 into the game. A minute later, Davis' shot bounced off the rim and Carter slammed home the rebound. With the quarter winding down, Carter dunked over Andrew DeClercq to make it 30-24, and 40 seconds later he set up McGrady for a slam.

Carter completed another highlight-reel move two minutes into the second quarter when he hit a one-handed alley-oop off a Muggsy Bogues inbounds pass. The two hooked up for a similar play in the third quarter to make it a 69-50 game.

"They've (teammates) asked me to step up and be a leader and it felt good to hear those guys say that," Carter said. "I try to be more vocal and to be a leader. It's an adjustment because I'm just a second-year guy."

McGrady, meanwhile, did a bit of everything at both ends, swatting away balls, causing turnovers and driving to the basket. He attempted 13 free throws, making 11.

"Vince and Tracy's efficiency has gone up and so has our play," Raptors coach Butch Carter said. "The main focus is the progress of the two young guys and that they stayed focused."

The Cavs, down by as much as 24 points in the third quarter, made a small charge in the fourth on a pair of Kemp dunks that closed the gap to 98-93 with 4:28 left, but the Raptors responded with six straight points.

"Toronto was a different team than from when they were at our place," said Cleveland coach Randy Wittman, whose team lost 99-96 March 28 on a buzzer-beating 3 by Charles Oakley. "Oak hit a couple shots early and got them going. I was searching for a lineup to get us back into the game."

Game notes
Doug Christie, not in uniform the previous two games with a sore right ankle and pulled groin, dressed but did not play. ... After getting fouled on a drive to the basket, McGrady tossed the ball at Mark Bryant and was assessed a technical. ... Davis injured his right leg in the second quarter but returned in the third. ... The Cavs, already eliminated from the playoffs, had won two straight on the road. ... The Raptors moved a half-game behind idle Charlotte for fifth place. ... The last Raptor to record a triple-double was Marcus Camby during the 1997-98 season.

 


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RECAPS
Boston 99
Atlanta 94

Philadelphia 96
Miami 80

Toronto 112
Cleveland 103

Charlotte 107
Washington 105

Milwaukee 104
Orlando 87

Minnesota 102
Detroit 100

New York 83
Indiana 81

LA Lakers 106
Seattle 103

Portland 90
Utah 86