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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) – Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors didn't take
the injury-plagued New Jersey Nets for granted
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| Alvin Williams |
Carter scored 27 points and Alvin Williams added a career-high 23 as the Raptors beat the Nets 110-99 Friday night, extending their winning streak to four games.
"We stepped it up and executed," said Carter, who had 12 points in the fourth quarter. "They had nothing to lose, and we knew that, so we knew we had to play."
Keith Van Horn scored 25 and Johnny Newman added 20 for the Nets.
New Jersey was without Stephon Marbury (season-ending surgery on
his left pinkie), Kenyon Martin (fractured right fibula), Kendall
Gill (knee tendinitis), Kerry Kittles (knee surgery), Jim McIlvaine
(strained right calf), Jamie Feick (sore left Achilles) and Sherman Douglas (thumb fracture).
"We're very short-handed, but we've got to compete like we did
tonight," Newman said.
Tracy Murray scored 20 for Toronto. Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams each had 13 and Charles Oakley added 10.
Eddie Gill's 3-pointer gave New Jersey a six-point lead with seven minutes remaining. Carter rallied the Raptors, scoring seven straight points on a dunk, a fadeaway jumper and a 3-pointer, as Toronto took a 99-94 lead with 4:35 left.
"Vince Carter hit the three and got them going," said Van
Horn, who was held scoreless while being guarded by Jerome Williams
in the second half.
"I wanted to be aggressive," Williams said.
After New Jersey's Aaron Williams made one of two free throws,
Davis hit one free throw and the Nets' Doug Overton countered with a layup.
After Murray's 3-pointer gave Toronto six-point lead with 2:20
left, Newman shot an air ball.
Davis hit a free throw before Newman made a long jumper and the Nets closed within 104-97.
Carter drove for a basket, Davis hit a pair of free throws and Williams added another pair with 20 seconds left to seal the win.
"I don't think we took them for granted, but we weren't
focused," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said.
Game notes
Toronto's Charles Oakley made fun of Marbury's reason for
having season-ending surgery on his left pinky. Marbury said he had
surgery on Thursday because the Nets won't make the playoffs.
"It's not about the playoffs," Oakley said. "If it was about the
playoffs he should have sat out at the beginning of the year." ...
Toronto's game against Orlando on Sunday has been changed from
12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. NBC dropped its coverage of the game, which
is Tracy McGrady's first in Toronto since leaving the Raptors as a
free agent. ... Toronto's Dell Curry missed the game with a sore left hamstring. .... Williams' previous career-high was 22 points against Washington on Nov. 4. ... Newman, Van Horn, Evan Eschmeyer, Lucious Harris and Overton started for the Nets.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New Jersey Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 102
Golden State 89
Toronto 110
New Jersey 99
Indiana 92
Boston 87
Denver 103
Charlotte 96
Detroit 100
Orlando 97
Utah 95
Cleveland 88
Portland 96
New York 79
Seattle 94
LA Clippers 84
LA Lakers 98
Dallas 89
Sacramento 110
Minnesota 98
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