Raptors Topple Spurs

Vince Carter is scoring less, which is a winning formula for the Toronto Raptors.

Carter has scored more than 30 points only once in Toronto’s last seven games, yet the Raptors have won five, including Wednesday night’s 98-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs at San Antonio.

Carter has had help. Against the Spurs, all five Toronto starters scored in double figures, with Mark Jackson adding 23 points and Morris Peterson 15.

Carter scored 27.

“I thought everything began with defense,” Raptor Coach Lenny Wilkens said. “The defense set the tone. We played good defense and it gave us a chance to get out and run some.

“Mark was outstanding. He took control of the game for us, especially in the fourth quarter. That’s good because we need someone other than Vince.

“Vince draws a crowd. When others are picking up the slack, it makes a great difference.”

Jackson also had 10 rebounds and seven assists.

San Antonio, which came into the game with the NBA’s best home record, fell to 15-3 at the Alamodome despite getting 22 points from Tim Duncan and 20 from Derek Anderson.

The Spurs have lost a season-high three in a row.

“A good practice is not a good barometer of how you will play the next day,” San Antonio Coach Gregg Popovich said. “You have to give Vince Carter some credit, he knocked down the shots.”

Sacramento 111, Boston 106--Chris Webber scored 30 points and the Kings negated a 47-point game by the Celtics’ Antoine Walker by rallying in the fourth quarter to win at Sacramento.

Phoenix 89, Seattle 80--Jason Kidd and the Suns, beaten by 19 points by the Supersonics at Phoenix on Sunday night, returned the favor by winning at Seattle.

Outscored, 22-3, by his fellow Olympic gold medalist from last summer’s Sydney Games in the teams’ first meeting of the season, Kidd came back with 15 points and seven assists to Gary Payton’s 15 points and six assists.

Payton was held to six-of-24 shooting, mostly on the defense of Mario Elie.

Philadelphia 99, Chicago 88--Allen Iverson scored 27 of his 43 points in the first half as the 76ers romped at Philadelphia in a matchup of teams with the NBA’s best and worst records.

Philadelphia won its fourth in a row, 11th in its last 12 and improved the league’s top record to 29-9. The Bulls have lost six in a row and seven of eight.

Dallas 91, Charlotte 90--Howard Eisley made a three-point shot as time expired at Charlotte, N.C., ending the Mavericks’ three-game losing streak.

Charlotte led, 90-88, with seven seconds to play after Jamal Mashburn made one of two free throws.

After a Dallas timeout, Michael Finley inbounded the ball to Dirk Nowitzki, who nearly lost it while looking for someone to pass it to. As the clock ticked down to two seconds, he spotted Eisley alone in the left corner and whipped the ball over to him.

New Jersey 108, Washington 89--Keith Van Horn had a season-high 27 points and 12 rebounds and Stephon Marbury scored 22 points at East Rutherford, N.J., as the Nets handed the Wizards their eighth consecutive loss.

Minnesota 89, Utah 81--Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and Terrell Brandon had 19 points and 11 assists at Salt Lake City as the Timberwolves ended Utah’s four-game winning streak.

Denver 121, Vancouver 97--Antonio McDyess had 20 points and 20 rebounds at Denver to lead the streaking Nuggets, who have won eight of nine and 13 of 16.