Karl impressed after Raptors rout Nuggets

George Karl called the Toronto Raptors the most talented team in the Eastern Conference after his Denver Nuggets missed their first 15 shots and lost by 27 points at Toronto.

Morris Peterson had 23 points, Jorge Garbajosa had a career-high 22 and the Raptors never trailed in a 121-94 victory on Friday night.

“I’m really impressed by this team. They might have the best talent in the Eastern Conference,” Karl said. “Their eight or nine guys know how to play. Detroit has probably the best starters in the league, but this team has great players. They have a chance to be a great team.”

The Atlantic Division-leading Raptors led by as many as 38. All-Star Chris Bosh didn’t return after spraining his right ankle after landing on Denver’s Reggie Evans midway through the third quarter.

Cleveland 90, New York 68 -- The Cavaliers, who were humiliated in an overtime loss to Charlotte and beaten by Dallas on consecutive nights this week, were barely bothered by the Knicks at Cleveland. The Knicks scored only 12 points in the fourth quarter and only 30 in the second half, and had their lowest-scoring game this season.

Indiana 95, Miami 70 -- The Pacers used their best defensive effort of the season to beat the Heat. They have won their last two home games by a combined 48 points. Shaquille O’Neal led Miami with 13 points and was the only Heat player to reach double figures.

Philadelphia 106, Charlotte 97 -- The 76ers, who had lost their previous two games to Houston and Detroit by a combined 71 points, won at Philadelphia despite playing without leading scorer Andre Iguodala, who has a strained lower back.

Dallas 109, Boston 95 -- Jason Terry scored 29 points to help the Mavericks extend their winning streak to five. Dallas, which improved to 4-0 during a six-game trip, is undefeated after losing two in a row for the first time since starting the season 0-4.

Orlando 90, New Jersey 82 -- The Magic overcame 17 turnovers by dominating inside at Orlando, Fla., to move up to the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference playoff standings and drop New Jersey to ninth.

Portland 102, Atlanta 100 -- LaMarcus Aldridge scored six of his 27 points in overtime to lift the Trail Blazers at Atlanta. Portland’s Brandon Roy made a three-point basket with 17.3 seconds left in regulation to tie the score at 88-88 and send the game into overtime.

San Antonio 90, Detroit 89 -- Manu Ginobili made four free throws in the final 18 seconds to clinch the victory at San Antonio.

Seattle 85, Minnesota 82 -- The SuperSonics won at Seattle despite playing without All-Star Ray Allen, who is out indefinitely because of inflammation in his left ankle caused by bone spurs.

Golden State 135, Washington 128 -- Baron Davis had 34 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds at Oakland to lead the Warriors to their seventh win in nine games.

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The Knicks signed free-agent center Randolph Morris to a two-year contract, adding the former Kentucky star to their roster thanks to an unusual provision in the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. Morris was not eligible to reenter another draft. He had free-agent status throughout his junior season but decided to play with the Wildcats.