PHILADELPHIA VS. TORONTO MILWAUKEE VS. CHARLOTTE SAN ANTONIO VS. DALLAS L.A. LAKERS VS. SACRAMENTO

Wednesday, May 30 Curry the secret weapon Raptors need Associated Press Curry PHILADELPHIA – Dell Curry didn't have his best playoff game. It just felt like it. Curry came off the bench to score 20 points Sunday, helping the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers 96-93 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series. Curry, playing in his 15th season, once scored 27 points in a playoff game as a member of the Charlotte Hornets against the Boston Celtics in 1993. "It was my best playoff game by far," Curry said, forgetting the performance eight years ago. "It felt good to be out there and contribute in a big way to help the team win." Curry, who averaged 6.0 points during the regular season and 4.4 points in the first-round series against New York, was 7-for-12, including 4-for-9 from 3-point range. "You can't give a jump shooter like him open jump shots and that was key," Sixers coach Larry Brown said. "For Dell to get 20 points on such few shots in such a meaningful game was very big." Curry had eight points in the second quarter as Toronto built a double-digit lead. He nailed a 3-pointer during an early 13-3 run and hit another 3 to make it 47-31 before the Sixers scored the final six points of the half. Curry's last shot was a big one. He hit a short jumper with 9:26 remaining that gave Toronto an 80-68 lead and momentarily took momentum away from Philadelphia, which had electrified the crowd on Jumaine Jones' alley-oop dunk from Allen Iverson. "We've been very confident with our whole bench," Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "I felt Dell could really help us. He was hurt early in the season, but once he healed, we've had time to get him in games and he's been great about it. Now he's very effective. He was terrific tonight." Curry averaged 13.5 minutes in the regular season, but played 34 Sunday as Chris Childs got into foul trouble. "You have to be ready to play when you're called, but with Chris getting in foul trouble we're going to need guys to step up each game," Curry said. "Next game it could be Jerome (Williams) or anybody on the bench. We have to come together as a team." With Curry hitting open jumpers, the Sixers couldn't double-team Vince Carter as much as they would have liked. Carter had 35 points, including the last four for the Raptors. "Dell Curry coming in and hitting big shots allowed Vince to have more one-on-one opportunities," Raptors guard Alvin Williams said. "Curry really did a great job." Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories

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