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

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






Sunday, Apr. 8 3:00pm ET
Bulls nearly assured of worst record

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

TORONTO (AP) – Vince Carter took control once Chicago's Ron Artest was ejected after two technical fouls.

Vince Carter
Raptors forward Vince Carter scored 20 of his 33 points late in the second half.

Carter scored 20 of his 33 points after Artest left in the third quarter as the Toronto Raptors beat the Chicago Bulls 100-88 on Sunday for their fourth straight win.

Artest, responsible for guarding Carter, received two technicals early in the third for arguing with Toronto's Morris Peterson.

"We really needed Ron and his type of defense," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "Ron was having an impact. He has the best chance of guarding Vince Carter without doubling him. It was our undoing."

Carter followed with 13 points in the third as Toronto outscored Chicago 41-28 in the period. "That turned the tide," Chicago's Elton Brand said.

The Bulls trailed by two points when Artest was ejected at 8:32.

"It was me and Mo Pete. He was trash talking and we just kept talking," Artest said. "I didn't think I would get ejected. It wasn't that serious. I should have just left it alone. I should have backed off."

Carter was 12-for-19 from the field, including a 6-of-11 mark from 3-point range.

"They gave us a run for our money early, but we just had to take care of business in the third," Carter said.

Brand had 28 points for the Bulls, who have lost 24 straight road games.

Chicago is all but assured of finishing with the league's worst record, and would need to win five of its final six games to match the franchise low of 17 set last season.

"It's especially hard when you're short-handed," Brand said. "The third-quarter spurt really hurt us."

Toronto's Antonio Davis had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Raptors, who have won eight of their last nine. Toronto is fifth in the Eastern Conference, 1 1/2 games behind New York.

"We have to shoot for home court advantage, but if it doesn't happen we can't be disappointed," Davis said. "We've played too well to be disappointed. We're in the playoffs, so we have a shot to win a championship, and that's all that matters."

Carter's 3-pointer started a 12-2 run late in the third quarter. Jerome Williams' driving dunk gave Toronto 16 point lead, but Chicago's A.J. Guyton made a 3-pointer just before the end of the quarter.

Toronto began the fourth with an 8-2 run, including a 3-pointer by Carter, giving Toronto a 19-point lead with 8:56 remaining.

Brand's lay up narrowed Toronto's lead to 10 points with 3:41 left, but Jerome Williams made two free throws, and Davis and Carter each had dunks, giving Toronto a 100-86 lead with 2:45 remaining.

Game notes
Three of Toronto's remaining five games are against teams that will miss the playoffs. ... Chicago's Ron Mercer didn't make the trip because of tendinitis in his right ankle. ... Toronto tied a season-high with 41 points in the third. ... Floyd benched Marcus Fizer for being late to the morning shootaround.

Send this story to a friend
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Chicago Clubhouse

Toronto Clubhouse

RECAPS
Miami 81
New York 76

Indiana 108
New Jersey 83

Sacramento 98
Portland 89

Toronto 100
Chicago 88

LA Lakers 104
Minnesota 99

San Antonio 84
Golden State 76

Seattle 101
Milwaukee 88


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.