Carter Leads Toronto Victory

Rick Pitino didn’t need a last-second shot by Vince Carter to set him off this time.

Carter scored 30 points Friday night and Pitino was ejected in the third quarter as the Toronto Raptors beat the Boston Celtics for the second time in three nights, 114-104, at Toronto.

Pitino ripped into Boston fans and media Wednesday night for having unrealistic expectations for the young team, following the Celtics’ loss to Toronto on Carter’s last-second three-point basket.

Pitino and star Antoine Walker weren’t around to see the finish Friday. Both were ejected in the second half as the Celtics lost their fourth in a row.

Tracy McGrady had 24 points and reserve Muggsy Bogues tied a career high with 24 points on perfect shooting, making all six of his shots, four from three-point range, and all eight of his free throws.

“When Muggsy Bogues goes four of four from three-point land, you know your luck is going bad,” Pitino said. “[The Raptors] made a lot of tough shots and Muggsy had a great night.”

Pitino was given a double technical foul and thrown out of the game for mouthing off to referee Jim Kinsey with 31.9 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Kenny Anderson tripped as he was coming down the court against Bogues. When no foul was called Pitino laced into Kinsey.

“I thought it was an obvious play,” Pitino said. “You get to know referees in this league. From the beginning of time, if you say something to Joey [Crawford] and [Kinsey] you’re going to be out. I didn’t deserve to get thrown out of the game.”

Walker was also given the boot when he started jawing at Crawford 19 seconds into the fourth.

Portland 101, Vancouver 91--Steve Smith scored 19 points as the Trail Blazers held off a late run by the Grizzlies at Portland, Ore.

Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells each added 16 points for Portland, which had its 11-game winning streak ended Tuesday by the Lakers.

Atlanta 83, New York 70--Jason Terry scored 17 points in his first NBA start and Dikembe Mutombo pulled down 20 rebounds at Atlanta as the Hawks ended a three-game losing streak.

Utah 89, Charlotte 87--John Stockton scored eight of his team-high 22 points in the final 4:40 as the Jazz held off the struggling Hornets at Charlotte, N.C. Eddie Jones had 31 points for Charlotte, which has lost three in a row at home.

Denver 122, Golden State 88--Keon Clark made 13 of 20 shots and set career highs with 29 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Nuggets at Denver. Chris Gatling added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets.

Around the League

Arbitrator Kenneth Dam said he didn’t have the jurisdiction to rule on John Starks’ unusual request to leave the Chicago Bulls and join a playoff contender. Starks offered to forfeit the rest of his $4-million salary if the Bulls would waive him, clearing the way for him to sign with a team headed for the playoffs. The case will likely now go to a grievance arbitrator. . . . The Philadelphia 76ers activated Nazr Mohammed from the injured list.