Raptors Slow Spurs, Retain Playoff Hopes

The Toronto Raptors are no longer pushovers.

“We have to keep working and not get ahead of ourselves,” center Kevin Willis said Friday night after the Raptors defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 93-91, at San Antonio, “but the league knows Toronto is here.”

Vince Carter made two big shots in the final 64 seconds to lead the Raptors down the stretch and hand the Spurs only their second loss in 14 games.

The Raptors are only two games behind the New York Knicks in the race for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Latrell Sprewell scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Patrick Ewing reached an NBA milestone only 11 other players have achieved as the New York Knicks defeated the Phoenix Suns, 94-87, at Phoenix. In the first quarter, Ewing became the 12th NBA player to score at least 20,000 points and grab 10,000 rebounds when he grabbed his 10,000th rebound. . . . Taking advantage of the absence of Allen Iverson, who sat out because of a leg injury, the Boston Celtics got 21 points from Antoine Walker in a 90-84 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers at Philadelphia. . . . Teenager Al Harrington returned to New Jersey and scored eight points to match his output for the season in helping the Indiana Pacers defeat the New Jersey Nets, 100-91, at East Rutherford, N.J. . . . Steve Smith scored 21 points, including a clinching three-point basket with 1:17 remaining, to help the sluggish Atlanta Hawks defeat the Chicago Bulls, 93-81, at Atlanta. . . . The Charlotte Hornets blew a 22-point lead before Elden Campbell powered a late run that resulted in a 90-82 victory over the Orlando Magic at Charlotte, N.C. . . . Jerry Stackhouse scored a season-high 34 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 90-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks at Auburn Hills, Mich. . . . Kevin Garnett scored 19 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 100-93 victory over the Miami Heat at Minneapolis. . . . Michael Finley scored 27 points in the Dallas Mavericks’ 98-79 rout of the Denver Nuggets at Dallas. . . . Karl Malone scored 26 points to lead the Utah Jazz to an 85-80 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies at Vancouver. . . . Terry Cummings and Chris Mills hit two free throws apiece in the final 15 seconds as the Golden State Warriors rallied for a 100-96 victory over the Washington Wizards at Oakland.

Around the League

Rex Chapman of the Phoenix Suns sat out Friday’s game against the New York Knicks after the NBA suspended him for one game without pay and fined him $5,000 for making contact with a referee in Thursday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. . . . Bryant Reeves of the Vancouver Grizzlies underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a slight cartilage tear in his right knee and will be sidelined for up to four weeks. . . . The NBA Players Assn. has filed a complaint on behalf of Sacramento King reserve Oliver Miller against the Suns for a skit the team’s Gorilla mascot did making fun of Miller’s weight. . . . Ed Gray of the Atlanta Hawks was charged with drug possession and driving under the influence after a state trooper stopped him in Atlanta for minor traffic violations. . . . James Robinson, cut by the Clippers last week, signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.