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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Vince Carter is scoring less, which is a
winning formula for the Toronto Raptors.
|  | | Spurs center David Robinson, left, and forward Tim Duncan collapse on Toronto's Antonio Davis. |
Carter has scored more than 30 points just once in Toronto's
last seven games, yet the Raptors have won five of them, including
Wednesday night's 98-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
Carter has had help. Against the Spurs, all five Toronto
starters scored in double figures, with Mark Jackson adding 23
points and Morris Peterson 15.
"I thought everything began with defense," Toronto coach Lenny
Wilkins said. "The defense set the tone. We played good defense
and it gave us a chance to get out and run some.
"Mark was outstanding. He took control of the game for us,
especially in the fourth quarter. That's good because we need
someone other than Vince. Vince draws a crowd. When others are
picking up the slack, it makes a great difference."
San Antonio, which came into the game with the NBA's best home
record, fell to 15-3 at the Alamodome despite 22 points by Tim
Duncan and 20 from Derek Anderson. The Spurs have now lost a
season-high three straight games.
"A good practice is not a good barometer of how you will play
the next day," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "You have
to give Vince Carter some credit, he knocked down the shots. I'm
most pleased that the guys didn't bat an eye. They kept plugging
and playing."
After fighting back from a 19-point first-half deficit, Toronto
opened the fourth quarter with a 16-5 run to lead 90-79 on a
Peterson jump shot with 5:36 to play.
San Antonio answered with a 9-0 streak to close to 90-88 on a
running jump hook by Antonio Daniels before Jackson's 3-pointer
stretched the Raptors' lead to 93-88 with 2:16 to play.
"I have put in a lot of time and shot with a lot of great
shooters throughout my career, whether it be Reggie Miller or Dale
Curry," Jackson said of his shot. "You have to have confidence in
making that shot. They went underneath and it was pretty much a
no-brainer. I put a lot of time into it, so I can live with it."
The Spurs missed five free throws over the final 1:58 and could
get no closer than four points the rest of the way. San Antonio
went 21-for-31 at the free-throw line on the night.
"It was disappointing down the stretch," Popovich said. "We
were two of seven from the free-throw line and made some defensive errors
that killed us. We had four turnovers to start the period."
Toronto led by as many as 19 points in the opening half.
"It was refreshing to see us hit our shots early," said
Carter. "It was a big win for us. San Antonio has a lot of marquee
and well-established players. To come into their house and win is
good for us."
San Antonio closed the first half with a 31-18 run to trail
55-50 at halftime. The score was tied at 74 after three quarters.
In addition to his 23 points, Jackson also dished out 10 assists
to go along with seven rebounds.
"That's how you become a good team, when you rebound off of a
loss like we had last night in Houston," Jackson said. "Coming in
here and winning against a very good basketball team is a big
win."
Game notes
With three players -- Avery Johnson
(bruised thigh), Sean Elliott (right shoulder rotator cuff tear)
and Shawnelle Scott (left patella tendinitis) -- on the injured
list, Malik Rose nursing a sore right hip and Danny Ferry suspended
for one game, San Antonio suited up only 10 players for the game
with Toronto ... With his team-high 27 points against San Antonio,
Vince Carter has now led the Raptors in scoring in 32 of the 34
games he has played in this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
San Antonio Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 99
Chicago 88
Dallas 91
Charlotte 90
New Jersey 108
Washington 89
Minnesota 89
Utah 81
Toronto 98
San Antonio 91
Denver 121
Vancouver 97
Sacramento 111
Boston 106
Phoenix 89
Seattle 80
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
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