Carter’s Olympian Effort Leads Raptors

Vince Carter sent a 47-point message to the U.S. Olympic team selection committee, with a bloody nose for Ray Allen thrown in for good measure.

Carter, facing Allen for the first time since Allen was selected over him for the U.S. Olympic team, scored a career-high 47 points Friday night as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 115-110, at Toronto.

Carter, who made 20 of 32 shots, set a franchise record and totaled the most points in an NBA game this season. The previous high was 46 by Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76ers and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs.

The Raptor forward, whose dream was to play at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, gave Allen a bloody nose in the first quarter with an elbow. Allen went down in a heap and ran off the court. No foul was called.

“There was no question about what was going on with the Olympic thing,” Allen said. “The first play of the game they went right at me.

“Next time it won’t be me hitting the floor. Getting an elbow on top of the head is uncalled-for. That’s the most my nose has ever bled.”

After making an assortment of jumpers and dunks, Carter scowled each time he ran back on defense.

Teammate Antonio Davis said it was the first time Carter openly showed his emotions about not making the team.

“Vince usually smiles a lot, [but] this time he was pumping his fists and trying to flex his muscles,” Davis said. “I was waiting for him to show his true feelings. It was going to take something, and maybe it was Ray Allen. It just goes to show maybe he deserves to be on that team.”

Carter tried to deny he was motivated by that.

“I took a little time for myself today, a little more than usual,” Carter said. “No statement, it was just basketball.”

Portland 105, Phoenix 83--The Trail Blazers overcame eight technical fouls and the ejections of Rasheed Wallace and Coach Mike Dunleavy at Phoenix, extending their winning streak to four games with their 10th victory in 11 games.

Scottie Pippen scored all 13 of his points in the second half, including a three-point play and three-point basket as Portland turned the game into a rout in the fourth quarter. He also had nine rebounds and seven assists.

The Trail Blazers outscored the Suns, 62-31, in the second half, 33-13 in the fourth quarter.

Arvydas Sabonis, back after sitting out three games because of a viral infection, made six of seven shots and all 11 of his free throws, scoring 23 points. He also pulled down 10 rebounds.

Wallace, who scored 16 points, got two quick technicals from referee Ted Bernhardt for complaining about an offensive foul call with Phoenix leading, 52-49, with 9:17 to play in the third quarter.

Wallace moved toward Bernhardt after the technicals and had to be restrained by Pippen.

Dunleavy, who drew his first technical 21 seconds into the game, got his second from referee Tony Brothers with 8:49 to play in the third. Jason Kidd made all three free throws on the third-quarter technicals to put Phoenix up, 55-49.

After Dunleavy left, the Trail Blazers scored the next seven points to take their first lead, 58-57, on Pippen’s three-pointer from the top of the key with 6:22 left in the quarter.

Seattle 91, San Antonio 85--Gary Payton scored 25 points and Vin Baker 23 at Seattle as the SuperSonics won their fourth in a row.

“We’re winning because we’re playing the way we’re supposed to play, like a team,” Payton said.

The Spurs, who got 32 points and 16 rebounds from Duncan, lost for the second night in a row. They were beaten on Thursday night at Sacramento.

The SuperSonics never trailed after grabbing an 18-2 lead in the first 5:20, but the defending NBA champions closed the gap to 60-59 in the third quarter.

“They bombarded us in the first quarter and it took so much to claw back that we didn’t have anything left,” Duncan said.

Detroit 105, Washington 98--Jerry Stackhouse had 32 points and a career-best seven steals, and Grant Hill scored 30 points at Auburn Hills, Mich. as the Pistons won for the seventh time in eight games.

Hill has scored 29 or more points in six consecutive games, averaging 35.7 a game in that stretch.

“Down the stretch we were going to Grant, and he hit some huge shots,” said Piston Coach Alvin Gentry. “He’s just playing sensational basketball.”

The Wizards have lost six in a row on the road.

Philadelphia 102, Orlando 100--Eric Snow’s 20-foot jumper with 14 seconds to play gave the 76ers the victory at Philadelphia.

Iverson led the 76ers with 35 points and had no turnovers, while Theo Ratliff had a big night in his second game back from another leg injury with 18 points, 14 rebounds and five blocks. Snow had 10 points and 11 assists for the 76ers, who rallied from an 18-point second-quarter deficit.

Miami 92, Denver 87--Alonzo Mourning scored 28 points and reserve Voshon Lenard scored 24 for the Heat, which rallied in the fourth quarter at Denver.

The Heat, extending its winning streak over the Nuggets to eight games, came back from a seven-point deficit midway through the fourth period.

Lenard scored 14 points and Mourning 11 in the quarter and Coach Pat Riley’s team outscored the Nuggets, 19-7, over the last 6:33.

“I guess when we get down, we get desperate,” said Mourning, who also had 13 rebounds and six blocked shots. “When we get up, we get complacent. We haven’t been playing with a sense of urgency. This is something we have to stop.”

Cleveland 82, Vancouver 80--Shawn Kemp scored five of his 24 points in the final three minutes to lead the Cavaliers at Vancouver.

Brevin Knight added 16 points while Lamond Murray scored 13 for the Cavaliers, who are unbeaten in seven games against the Grizzlies.

Michael Dickerson scored 23 points and reserve Grant Long scored a season-high 13 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost their last four home games.

Atlanta 89, Chicago 83--Isaiah Rider scored 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter, and his 15-foot jumper with 45 seconds to play sealed the Hawks’ victory at Chicago.

The victory ended a seven-game road losing streak for the Hawks. They hadn’t won on the road since beating the Raptors on Nov. 30.