Wizards Keep Rolling

Vince Carter lit up Michael Jordan for 19 points in the first quarter. Jordan played lights-out defense on him in the second half.

The Washington Wizards rallied from a 19-point deficit, holding Carter scoreless in the second half to beat the Toronto Raptors, 93-88, Sunday at Toronto for their season-high sixth consecutive victory.

“It took me a whole quarter just to understand what his tendencies are, and how I could take his rhythm away,” Jordan said of Carter, who finished with 23 points. “We wanted to shut him down as much as possible and make the other guys hurt us.”

Richard Hamilton scored 27 points and Jordan added 21 as Washington matched its longest winning streak since a six-game run from Dec. 15-26, 1997.

Chris Whitney made three big three-point baskets in the fourth quarter to help send Toronto to its fourth consecutive loss.

Sacramento 104, Memphis 87--Chris Webber scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help the Kings end a two-game losing streak and make Jason Williams’ return to Sacramento a losing one.

Williams, traded to the Grizzlies in the off-season, was never a factor, shooting four for 16 and finishing with 11 points and five assists. The Kings never let a 13-point first-quarter lead dip below 10 points.

Pau Gasol had 15 points for Memphis.

New Jersey 114, New York 96--The Don Chaney era is not unfolding well for the Knicks.

Kerry Kittles made five three-pointers, Jason Kidd made four and the Nets shot 14 for 24 from beyond the three-point arc at New York in sending the Knicks to their fourth consecutive loss.

The Knicks had only one four-game losing streak in Jeff Van Gundy’s six-plus seasons as coach, and Chaney already has his first after coaching the team for only five games.

Kittles finished with 27 points, Kidd had 18 points and 14 assists and Kenyon Martin scored 21 for the Nets, who have defeated the Knicks four consecutive times--the first time that has happened in almost 15 years.

Allan Houston scored 23 for the Knicks.

Seattle 114, Orlando 91--Gary Payton scored 26 points at Seattle as the SuperSonics took advantage of an injury to the Magic’s leading scorer, Tracy McGrady.

McGrady scored four points in five minutes before leaving because of a lower back strain.

Mike Miller scored 23 points to lead the Magic, which went 1-5 on its West Coast trip.

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Rocket guard Steve Francis was charged with driving while intoxicated early Sunday morning in Houston. Francis, 24, was first stopped for running a red light at 5a.m. He was released Sunday afternoon after posting $500 bail. Francis has been on the injured list since late November because of ruptured tissue in his left foot. The Rockets had already received bad news Friday when former Clipper Maurice Taylor was found in violation of the NBA’s drug policy. Taylor--already sidelined for the season after rupturing an Achilles’ tendon in September--will have to serve a five-game suspension when he is healthy enough to return.