ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | NASCAR | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses





Thursday, Dec. 28 9:00pm ET
Carter, Raptors rally past Nuggets

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

DENVER (AP) -- Vince Carter's shooting touch returned at just the right moment.

Vince Carter
Toronto's Vince Carter goes up for a shot over Raef LaFrentz on Thursday.
Carter struggled through an 11-for-27 shooting performance but delivered a 3-pointer with 4.9 seconds left as the Toronto Raptors beat the Denver Nuggets 94-93 Thursday night.

Carter, who finished with 25 points, shrugged off his second consecutive poor shooting performance.

"I don't get rattled, I don't get nervous, and I don't put pressure on myself," said Carter, who shot 12-for-31 at Minnesota on Tuesday. "I just play the same way as I play from the beginning of the game."

Corliss Williamson added 16 points for Toronto.

"Carter is a very capable player, and you want him involved in he last play," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "He has great confidence in himself, and I'm just going to keep tweaking it to keep it on the upside."

Even the Nuggets were impressed with Carter's heroics.

"Carter is unbelievable and there seems to be no pressure on him," Antonio McDyess said. "He has no conscience. He shot the ball and made it."

Former Nugget Mark Jackson had 11 points and a season-high 17 assists for the Raptors, who snapped a two-game losing streak.

McDyess had 22 points, 12 rebounds and a season-high seven assists. Raef LaFrentz had 18 points and 12 rebounds as the Nuggets lost for the second time in seven games.

Voshon Lenard had put Denver ahead 92-91, and a free throw by Nick Van Exel made it 93-91 with 18 seconds left. After a time out, Jackson set up the game-winner for Carter.

"There were two options," Carter said. "I came off the pick when nobody was expecting me to come off. I set my feet and let it go and hoped somebody loved me."

McDyess missed a dunk with two seconds left after receiving a lob pass from George McCloud.

"We set a back screen on Antonio's man," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "That was the first option and I guess George thought he was open."

McDyess, who is battling a cold, said he never really got control of the ball.

"I tried to get my fingertips on it and never really had it," said McDyess.

After James Posey hit jumper to start the fourth quarter, Denver missed its next five shots. The Raptors got two jumpers from Charles Oakley and four points from Kevin Willis to take a 77-75 lead early in the quarter. The Raptors extended their lead to 81-77 on jump shots by Oakley and Carter.

The Nuggets regained the lead at 84-81 as McCloud hit a 3-pointer and jump shot, but Williamson's rebound basket tied the game at 85.

McDyess and Nick Van Exel hit shots to put Denver ahead 89-85, but Carter's reverse layup and two free throws by Alvin Williams put the Raptors ahead 91-89 with 38 seconds left.

Denver led 51-49 at halftime.

Game notes
Carter received a standing ovation in pre-game introductions, while Oakley was booed. ... Denver's Robert Pack sat out the game with stomach cramps. ... Guard Tariq Abdul-Wahad, on injured reserve with an inflamed throat, worked out briefly with the Nuggets the past two days. ... Williamson needs five rebounds for 1,500 in the NBA. ... Denver is 10-4 when it allows fewer than 100 points. ... The Nuggets were 8-for-21 shooting in the fourth quarter.


ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Toronto Clubhouse

Denver Clubhouse

RECAPS
Milwaukee 107
Cleveland 89

Boston 112
New Jersey 111

Orlando 102
Detroit 96

Dallas 105
LA Clippers 96

Minnesota 88
Atlanta 81

Portland 103
Utah 102

Chicago 105
San Antonio 104

Toronto 94
Denver 93

LA Lakers 115
Phoenix 78

Sacramento 91
Charlotte 87

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

Vince Carter Official Site

Mark Jackson Official Site

Lenny Wilkens Official Site


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.