Raptors Rally as Spurs Turn Cold

With Vince Carter playing the worst basketball of his career, Lamond Murray picked up the slack.

Murray scored all 13 of his points in the fourth quarter, helping the Toronto Raptors overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to beat the San Antonio Spurs, 96-91, at Toronto on Sunday.

Carter scored only four points on two-for-nine shooting and didn’t play in the fourth quarter, dropping his scoring average to a career-low 14.5.

“There’s no sense in sitting there and pouting,” said Carter, who wants to be traded. “It wasn’t my day. I couldn’t buy a basket.”

Carter has been benched in the fourth quarter of three games this season because Toronto’s reserves have played better.

Behind Murray’s six-for-seven shooting, the Raptors overcame a 19-point deficit in the fourth quarter -- the largest fourth-quarter comeback in team history.

Rafer Alston had 20 points, a season-high 11 assists and seven rebounds for the Raptors, who ended a five-game losing streak.

Toronto ended San Antonio’s six-game winning streak by outscoring the Spurs, 33-9, in the final period. The Spurs tied a franchise low with two field goals in the fourth.

Tim Duncan had 26 points and 15 rebounds, but only three points in the fourth.

Denver 110, Dallas 82 -- Defensive specialist Greg Buckner scored a career-high 28 points, and Carmelo Anthony had 21, giving the Nuggets a victory over the Mavericks at Denver.

Dallas got Erick Dampier and Jason Terry back from injuries but lost leading scorer and rebounder Dirk Nowitzki to a sprained left ankle.

The All-Star forward was injured late in the second quarter when he stepped on the foot of Denver forward Nene.

Kenyon Martin had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Sacramento 88, Milwaukee 79 -- Peja Stojakovic scored 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter at Sacramento, and the Kings made a late rally for their fifth victory in a row.

Stojakovic made three three-point shots during the Kings’ decisive 18-2 run, and Chris Webber had 18 points and 14 rebounds despite seven-for-22 shooting.

Keith Van Horn scored 15 points for the Bucks, who lost their fourth in a row.

Boston 102, Seattle 83 -- Ricky Davis scored 25 points, and Paul Pierce had 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the host Celtics over Seattle and end the SuperSonics’ nine-game winning streak.

Ray Allen scored 21 for Seattle, but Rashard Lewis was only four for 13 from the field and scored 12 points as the Sonics shot 36%.

Miami 93, Philadelphia 83 -- Dwyane Wade scored 25 points, and the host Heat remained unbeaten against Eastern Conference opponents.

Shaquille O’Neal had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Heat, which is 8-0 against the East and 0-3 against the Western Conference.

The 76ers played without Allen Iverson, who was nursing a bruised elbow.

Marc Jackson scored 21 points for the 76ers.

New York 98, Cleveland 88 -- Jamal Crawford scored 13 of his 24 points during the fourth quarter, ending the visiting Cavaliers’ six-game winning streak.

Drew Gooden led Cleveland with 25 points and 15 rebounds, and LeBron James had 13 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds.

Houston 97, Portland 93 -- Tracy McGrady had 16 points and 11 assists, and Yao Ming led Houston with 19 points to help the Rockets hold off the Trail Blazers at Portland, Ore.

Portland’s Zach Randolph had 28 points and 14 rebounds.