RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- When the Toronto Raptors' Vince Carter went down
with an injury, his teammates stepped up.
|  | | Vince Carter, talking with trainer Chuck Mooney after injuring his leg, was listed as day-to-day. |
Carter, the NBA's leading scorer, strained his left quad in the
first quarter and did not return, but Mark Jackson registered a
triple-double and six Raptors scored in double figures as Toronto
beat the Chicago Bulls 101-89 on Sunday.
Carter, who was averaging 29.8 points, felt a twinge on a
fadeaway jumper 3:09 into the game. He was helped off the court and
did not return. Carter will be reevaluated Monday and was listed
as day-to-day.
"I was stepping back to shoot and as I planted, the knee gave
out," Carter said. "I knew something wasn't right. It's the top
of my knee."
Toronto beat Chicago for the eighth straight time.
"I wanted to go back and give it a shot and let the pain tell
me, but our guys were playing well out there," said Carter. "It
was weird (to be on the bench), but this is something I'm
continuing to do and that's to be a leader. Even if that means from
the sidelines on what I see instead of on the court."
Carter, who was scoreless, hasn't missed a game during his
three-year career and holds the franchise record of appearing in
145 straight games.
"Vince is our main guy but other people have to step up and
that's what they did," Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We
played smart and took advantage of certain mismatches."
Jackson had 11 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, scoring his
final two points on free throws with 8.4 seconds left for his 17th
career triple-double. Rookie Morris Peterson had a season-high 18
points. Antonio Davis also had 18 points, while Charles Oakley and
Kevin Willis each contributed 16. Dell Curry added 11.
"We realized that we were missing our guy. We had guys that
stepped up and made plays," said Jackson, who got some ribbing
from injured teammate and local radio fill-in Muggsy Bogues when he
missed a free throw with 22 seconds left while sitting on nine
points. "Muggs made me aware that I was close (to a triple-double)
and he stayed on me. When I went to the line and missed one I knew
I wouldn't hear the end of it. I saw him throw his hands down like
a coach in disgust. Fortunately, I had another opportunity."
Toronto won its third straight game, while Chicago, which
received a season-high 31 points from Elton Brand, has lost eight
in a row.
Peterson was given extra minutes and had some dazzling baskets,
including a breakaway dunk early in the second quarter, giving the
Raptors a 33-27 lead.
"(When Carter left) we felt like we could change matchups, but
the guy that hurt us was Mo Peterson," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said.
"They got a big lift from their three big guys -- Oakley, Willis
and Davis."
Oakley, who was shooting under 30 percent, regained his scoring
touch, hitting seven of 10 field goals. He also had 11 rebounds. An
Oakley 3-pointer just before the 24-second buzzer gave Toronto a
72-62 lead with 1:20 left in the third quarter.
Ron Artest had 20 points for the Bulls and Corey Benjamin had 14
off the bench.
The Raptors led by as many as 13 points midway through the
fourth quarter, but Brand led a brief Bulls rally with three
baskets down the stretch, making the score 87-81 with 4:52 left.
Then, Davis had a powerful dunk off a rebound and Willis connected
on a sky hook, opening a 91-81 lead with 3:47 remaining.
Game notes
Toronto's winning streak against Chicago is its best
against any NBA franchise. ... Peterson's previous high was 14
points against Detroit Oct. 31. ... In their previous meeting,
Oakley had his first triple-double since 1987 while a member of the
Bulls. ... Bulls rookie Marcus Fizer is day-to-day with a sprained
right ankle. ... Chicago's Fred Hoiberg left the game after the
first quarter with an ankle injury. ... Toronto, having won three
straight road games, heads back on the road for games at Dallas
Tuesday and Charlotte Wednesday.
|
|
NBA Scoreboard
Chicago Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
Raptors' Carter grounded with case of 'jumper's knee'
RECAPS
Vancouver 98
Boston 87
Toronto 101
Chicago 89
Utah 94
Detroit 79
|
