Raptors Reach a New Low in Loss

L.A. Times Archives

Nov. 2, 2003 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Latrell Sprewell knows something his new teammates are just starting to figure out -- defense wins championships.

Sprewell pressured Vince Carter the entire game, and the Minnesota Timberwolves held the Toronto Raptors to a franchise-low for points in a 73-56 victory Saturday night at Minneapolis.

It was the fewest points scored against Minnesota in team history.

“Defensively, I want to lead by example,” Sprewell said after holding Carter to 15 points. “I’ve been deep in the playoffs before and it’s only because I played for defensive teams.”

Kevin Garnett and Michael Olowokandi were following Sprewell’s lead, blocking four shots each. Garnett finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Olowokandi had 14 points for the Timberwolves, who scored a franchise-low 61 points the previous night at New Jersey.

The Raptors made 19 of 69 shots from the field (27.5%) and scored a franchise-worst 24 points in the second half.

San Antonio 86, New York 74 -- Jason Hart and Shane Heal handled the point guard duties in their season debuts for the Spurs, who got 15 points and 15 rebounds from Tim Duncan to win at San Antonio.

With Tony Parker (sore left ankle) and Anthony Carter (left knee tendinitis) sidelined, the Spurs gave the start to Hart -- signed Friday after being cut by Seattle. He had two points and two assists in 31 minutes.

Heal, an Australian who played briefly in the NBA for Minnesota, had 11 points -- including a pair of three-point baskets -- and two assists in 17 backup minutes.

Dallas 127, Utah 102 -- Newcomers Antoine Walker and Tony Delk began looking comfortable in the Maverick offense, each making two three-pointers during a third-quarter rally at Dallas.

Delk scored 14 of his 22 in the third quarter while Walker had 10 of his 16. The Mavericks scored 41 points in the quarter, two shy of the biggest third quarter in team history.

Denver 109, Sacramento 88 -- Rookie Carmelo Anthony had 23 points, six rebounds and five assists in his best showing this season to lead the Nuggets at Denver.

Anthony, who made only nine of 29 shots in his first two games, was 9 for 14.

Voshon Lenard had 15 points, and Chris Andersen and Rodney White came off the bench to score 12 apiece for the Nuggets, who had seven players in double figures.

Denver, 17-65 last season, has now beaten two of the NBA’s best teams. The Nuggets defeated the defending champion San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night.

Memphis 79, Houston 71 -- Former Clipper Lorenzen Wright came off the bench to score 21 points, including 10 straight in the fourth quarter, to lead the Grizzlies at Houston.

With Memphis trailing, 61-60, and 7:39 left, Wright scored 11 points during a 13-2 run. Houston pulled within four, 75-71, on a basket by Yao Ming with 51 seconds left, but never got closer as the Grizzlies scored the last four points.

Milwaukee 98, Chicago 68 -- Joe Smith helped make Coach Terry Porter’s home debut a winning one, scoring 19 points in the easy victory over the Bulls.

Smith scored 12 points in the third quarter as the Bucks turned a tight game into a blowout. He scored eight straight points during a 24-3 run that turned a 48-47 deficit into a 71-51 lead.

The Bulls never recovered and finished with one of the worst halves in their history, scoring only 26 points and making only eight baskets -- one more than the franchise low -- in 33 attempts.

New Jersey 98, Washington 85 -- Jason Kidd had 30 points and nine assists Washington to lead the Nets past former assistant coach Eddie Jordan’s Wizards.

Brian Scalabrine, starting for injured forward Kenyon Martin, had 12 points, including the first three in a 9-2 run that opened the fourth quarter.

New Orleans 97, Boston 90 -- Baron Davis made six three-point baskets and scored 37 points at New Orleans to help give the Hornets the first 3-0 start in franchise history.

Davis was six for seven from three-point range, his last coming with 4:26 left to give the Hornets a 91-87 lead. In all, the Hornets made 12 of 24 three-point baskets.

The victory gave new Hornet Coach Tim Floyd a 3-0 start. His best winning streak in Chicago during three-plus losing seasons was three.

Indiana 103, Atlanta 99 -- Anthony Johnson made a tie-breaking three-point basket in overtime to help the Pacers win at Atlanta.

The Pacers fell behind, 14-0, at the start but rebounded to keep the Hawks winless. Atlanta has lost three in a row to start the season.

Detroit 96, Orlando 85 -- At Orlando, Tracy McGrady scored 31 points for the Magic -- 18 in a 6:28 span of the third quarter -- but he missed his last seven shots. Ben Wallace of the Pistons had 13 points and 17 rebounds for his second double-double of the season.

Golden State 104, Philadelphia 90 -- Mike Dunleavy had career highs of 32 points and 11 rebounds at Oakland to help the Warriors win for the first time this season. He reached his previous career high of 21 points on a free throw shortly before halftime.

Portland 104, Cleveland 85 -- Cavalier rookie LeBron James had his worst game so far this season, making three of 12 shots and scoring eight points with six assists at Portland.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Coming Up Short

The fewest points scored by one team and both teams in an NBA game since the 24-second shot clock was introduced for the 1954-55 season:

ONE TEAM

49 -- Chicago vs. Miami, April 10, 1999

53 -- Denver at Detroit, Nov. 16, 2002

54 -- Utah at Chicago, June 7, 1998*

55 -- Indiana vs. San Antonio, March 29, 1998

56 -- Toronto at Minnesota, Nov. 1, 2003

56 -- Miami vs. Utah, Dec. 18, 2001

56 -- Miami at Charlotte, Dec. 20, 2000

56 -- Utah at Seattle, Feb. 16, 1999