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  Saturday, Jan. 29 6:30pm ET
Toronto 106, Chicago 89
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

CHICAGO (AP) _ Vince Carter, the top vote getter for the NBA All-Star game, took some time to get warmed up Saturday.

Once he did, the Toronto Raptors took off and went on to a 106-89 victory over the Chicago Bulls for their fourth straight win.

Carter, who garnered 1,911,973 votes for next month's All-Star game in final results released Saturday, managed just four first-half points against Ron Artest's tight defense.

But he shook free in the third quarter, scoring 15 and sparking the Raptors to a 36-24 advantage that opened up an 82-62 lead.

Carter finished with 22 points, Kevin Willis scored a season-high 21, Tracy McGrady had 18 and Dell Curry 17 for the Raptors, who shot 59 percent.

Artest scored 18 for the Bulls and Elton Brand 16.

Carter had a 3-pointer, reverse stuff on a feed from Curry and a jumper, and Curry's three 3-pointers helped the Raptors pull away with a quick 19-8 third-quarter run that opened a a 65-46 lead.

The Raptors took a 46-38 halftime lead behind the second-quarter play of another young star, McGrady.

McGrady dunked after a spectacular double clutch move on the baseline and then went high to block Brand's shot at the other end. Seconds later he bounced in a jumper and the Raptors took a seven-point second-quarter lead, one they pushed to eight by half.

Notes: Carter is a frequent contributor to TV highlight shows with his assortment of dunks: "A lot of people get caught up in the highlights a lot and that's all well and fine," he said. "I'm glad I can provide them. But I want to win, too." ... The Raptors are 18-0 when scoring 100 points. ... Brand leads NBA rookies in rebounds and blocks and entering Saturday's game was just behind Houston's Steve Francis in scoring. ... Toronto's Muggsy Bogues left the game in the third quarter with a bruised right shoulder and did not return.. ...Curry started his second straight game. His start against Miami on Friday night was his first since Dec. 6, 1997. ... The Raptors broke a five-game road losing streak. ... Dickey Simpkins of the Bulls was fined $5,000 Saturday by the NBA for committing a flagrant foul against Sacramento's Vlade Divac on Friday night. Simpkins got in early foul trouble Saturday and did not score in nine minutes. ... Willis made 8-of-9 shots from the floor and Curry was 7-of-8.

 


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RECAPS
Detroit 90
Philadelphia 88

Minnesota 96
Utah 94

Toronto 106
Chicago 89

Indiana 94
Miami 84

Portland 81
San Antonio 67

Washington 103
Cleveland 98

Charlotte 100
Phoenix 79

Orlando 103
Atlanta 87

Dallas 107
Denver 96

Milwaukee 101
Seattle 99

LA Clippers 98
New Jersey 93