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Wednesday, Jan. 17 8:30pm ET
All five Toronto starters hit double figures

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Vince Carter is scoring less, which is a winning formula for the Toronto Raptors.

David Robinson
Spurs center David Robinson, left, and forward Tim Duncan collapse on Toronto's Antonio Davis.
Carter has scored more than 30 points just once in Toronto's last seven games, yet the Raptors have won five of them, including Wednesday night's 98-91 victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

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.

"I thought everything began with defense," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkins 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."

San Antonio, which came into the game with the NBA's best home record, fell to 15-3 at the Alamodome despite 22 points by Tim Duncan and 20 from Derek Anderson. The Spurs have now lost a season-high three straight games.

"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. I'm most pleased that the guys didn't bat an eye. They kept plugging and playing."

After fighting back from a 19-point first-half deficit, Toronto opened the fourth quarter with a 16-5 run to lead 90-79 on a Peterson jump shot with 5:36 to play.

San Antonio answered with a 9-0 streak to close to 90-88 on a running jump hook by Antonio Daniels before Jackson's 3-pointer stretched the Raptors' lead to 93-88 with 2:16 to play.

"I have put in a lot of time and shot with a lot of great shooters throughout my career, whether it be Reggie Miller or Dale Curry," Jackson said of his shot. "You have to have confidence in making that shot. They went underneath and it was pretty much a no-brainer. I put a lot of time into it, so I can live with it."

The Spurs missed five free throws over the final 1:58 and could get no closer than four points the rest of the way. San Antonio went 21-for-31 at the free-throw line on the night.

"It was disappointing down the stretch," Popovich said. "We were two of seven from the free-throw line and made some defensive errors that killed us. We had four turnovers to start the period."

Toronto led by as many as 19 points in the opening half.

"It was refreshing to see us hit our shots early," said Carter. "It was a big win for us. San Antonio has a lot of marquee and well-established players. To come into their house and win is good for us."

San Antonio closed the first half with a 31-18 run to trail 55-50 at halftime. The score was tied at 74 after three quarters.

In addition to his 23 points, Jackson also dished out 10 assists to go along with seven rebounds.

"That's how you become a good team, when you rebound off of a loss like we had last night in Houston," Jackson said. "Coming in here and winning against a very good basketball team is a big win."

Game notes
With three players -- Avery Johnson (bruised thigh), Sean Elliott (right shoulder rotator cuff tear) and Shawnelle Scott (left patella tendinitis) -- on the injured list, Malik Rose nursing a sore right hip and Danny Ferry suspended for one game, San Antonio suited up only 10 players for the game with Toronto ... With his team-high 27 points against San Antonio, Vince Carter has now led the Raptors in scoring in 32 of the 34 games he has played in this season.
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Toronto Clubhouse

San Antonio Clubhouse


RECAPS
Philadelphia 99
Chicago 88

Dallas 91
Charlotte 90

New Jersey 108
Washington 89

Minnesota 89
Utah 81

Toronto 98
San Antonio 91

Denver 121
Vancouver 97

Sacramento 111
Boston 106

Phoenix 89
Seattle 80

FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT

Vince Carter Official Site

Mark Jackson Official Site

Lenny Wilkens Official Site


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