Trail Blazers Bounce Back With Victory Over Raptors

The Portland Trail Blazers went from embarrassment to victory.

Rasheed Wallace scored 25 points Thursday night, including three key baskets in the closing minutes, as the Trail Blazers ended the Raptors’ four-game winning streak with an 86-80 victory at Toronto.

The Trail Blazers, coming off a 99-97 loss to the struggling Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday, got back on track against the Raptors.

“We had a letdown [in Atlanta] but that’s life,” Dale Davis said. “We felt like we should have been a better team and we were a lot more focused [against the Raptors].”

Wallace echoed Davis.

“We were able to sink the basketball and their double-team came a little late,” Wallace said. “They have a good ballclub and they weren’t just going to go away.”

Vince Carter, who scored a season-high 37 points, led a fourth-quarter rally as the Raptors tied the score at 79-79 with 2:49 to play.

But Wallace answered with a turnaround jumper, and then a pair of long outside shots within a 90-second span, giving the Trail Blazers an 85-80 lead with 41.2 seconds to play.

Rookie Morris Peterson missed a shot on the Raptors’ next possession, ending Toronto’s comeback attempt.

“We didn’t get it done and now we have to bounce back,” said Carter. “It doesn’t matter if I get 60 points if we’re not winning. I missed some shots, Antonio [Davis], everyone. They’re a bigger team and were able to shut us down.”

Houston 84, Charlotte 80--Cuttino Mobley scored eight of his game-high 23 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Rockets at Houston.

Maurice Taylor added 17 points and Steve Francis scored 13 for the Rockets, who have won five in a row at home.

Baron Davis led the Hornets with 20 points.

San Antonio 99, Washington 95--Derek Anderson scored seven of his 19 points in the fourth quarter as the Spurs rallied at Washington.

Anderson keyed San Antonio’s 11-2 run late in the fourth quarter as the Spurs kept the Wizards winless at home.

David Robinson (21 points and 14 rebounds) and Tim Duncan (19 and 10) led the Spurs.

Utah 99, Orlando 84--Bryon Russell scored a season-high 23 points and the Jazz scored the last 11 points of the game at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz broke a two-game losing streak in a sloppy game in which Karl Malone scored only 15 points and combined with John Stockton for 13 of Utah’s 24 turnovers.

Denver 89, Chicago 85--Antonio McDyess had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Keon Clark added 16 points, eight rebounds and a key blocked shot at Denver as the Nuggets kept the Bulls winless on the road.

Around the League

With starting center Chris Dudley sidelined for two to three weeks because of a sprained left ankle, the Phoenix Suns might activate Tom Gugliotta today. Gugliotta is coming off major reconstructive knee surgery. . . . The Charlotte Hornets placed forward Otis Thorpe on the injured list because of a strained left foot. Forward Lee Nailon was activated off the injured list to fill the roster spot.