Carter Rescues Raptors Again

Vince Carter usually shrugs off his heroics. On Friday night, however, he told the truth.

Carter scored 42 points, including a three-point basket with 1.4 seconds left in overtime as the Toronto Raptors beat the Denver Nuggets, 98-96, at Toronto.

“They are all special. I’m not going to lie to you,” Carter said. “I had a game-winning three-pointer against Boston. That was one of my first. I had one against the Clippers, and they’ve all been the same way, all three-point shots.”

Carter also tied a career-high with 15 rebounds for the Raptors, who had lost their previous two games.

“Other than a triple overtime game against Sacramento last year, this is one of the best games I’ve played in,” Carter said. “This was fun.”

Nick Van Exel scored all 27 of his points in the second half and overtime for the Nuggets, who have lost seven of eight.

George McCloud’s off-balance three-pointer with 35 seconds left in overtime gave Denver a 94-93 lead. Carter followed with a driving layup, but Ryan Bowen made a short jumper with 5.4 seconds left, giving Denver a one-point lead.

Carter then made his long three-pointer, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Denver’s Raef LaFrentz missed an alley-oop layup at the buzzer.

The Nuggets led by three as Van Exel scored Denver’s last seven points of the fourth, but McCloud fouled Carter as he attempted a three-point shot with three seconds left.

Carter made all three of his free throws to send the game into overtime.

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Miami 98, Seattle 94--Alonzo Mourning had 21 points and 12 rebounds as the Heat ended a 12-game losing streak--the longest of Coach Pat Riley’s career--with an overtime victory at Seattle.

Jim Jackson’s 14-foot jumper at the buzzer sent the game into overtime tied 88-88.

Gary Payton narrowly missed his second consecutive triple-double for Seattle with 25 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds.

Charlotte 106, Golden State 89--David Wesley scored a season-high 25 points for the Hornets at Oakland.

Baron Davis had 20 points and 14 assists and Elden Campbell had 21 points for the Hornets, who won for the sixth time in eight games.

San Antonio 86, Philadelphia 76--Charles Smith, who had appeared in only five of the Spurs’ first 17 games, made three three-point baskets during a critical stretch of the fourth quarter and finished with 20 points to lead the Spurs at San Antonio.

The 76ers played without guard Allen Iverson and forward Derrick Coleman. Iverson has a sprained thumb and Coleman was a last-minute scratch due to a hyperextended left knee.

New Jersey 96, Cleveland 84--Kerry Kittles scored 23 points and Kenyon Martin scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half for the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who missed the first 17 games because of foot surgery, scored 19 points in just 18 minutes for Cleveland.

Indiana 98, Chicago 83--Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and 11 rebounds and rookie guard Jamaal Tinley had 18 points and 10 assists to lead the Pacers at Indianapolis.

Marcus Fizer scored 19 points for Chicago.

Boston 109, Phoenix 102--Paul Pierce scored 26 points as the Celtics won in overtime at Boston for their sixth consecutive victory.

Orlando 129, Atlanta 94--Tracy McGrady scored 32 points to lead the Magic at Orlando.