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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- In Doug Christie, the Toronto Raptors may have found the point guard they need.
|  | | Kevin Willis managed three points, but helped keep the Knicks quiet. |
Vince Carter scored 29 points and Tracy McGrady had 18,
including 14 in the third quarter, as the Raptors won their seventh
straight home game with a 91-70 win over the New York Knicks on
Tuesday night.
Christie, the Raptors' starting point guard for the past three weeks, had 11 assists in the first quarter and a career-high 13 overall.
Christie, bitten by a spider during his trip to Jamaica last weekend, also had 10 points and eight rebounds. He wore a band-aid over his swollen left cheek.
"If he's going to play like that, spiders need to bite his
behind every night," said Toronto coach Butch Carter, who met with
Christie on Monday to alleviate Christie's fear that he might be
traded.
"I told him I won't trade him, but he sees on the Internet that
he will be traded and then he has the insecurity of seeing Tracy
and Carter come on like gangbusters. He and I just need to
communicate."
Christie, normally a shooting guard, said he's comfortable
playing the point.
"It worked out really good tonight," he said.
McGrady, wearing a brace on his right arm after bruising it
during Saturday's All-Star dunk contest, dominated in the third by
scoring 10 straight points at one point. He also had two
crowd-pleasing blocks on Allan Houston.
Carter, the slam dunk champion, dominated the first quarter by
scoring 15 points as the Raptors outscored the Knicks 32-16.
Toronto's star forward blew past Latrell Sprewall for two
spectacular dunks.
The Raptors led by as many as 18 in the first half, but the
Knicks went on a 29-13 run, with Houston scoring 13 points, to pull
to 47-45 before the Raptors ended the quarter a 6-0 run.
"If Doug Christie plays against as little pressure as he played
against tonight, he can be a pretty good point guard," New York
coach Jeff Van Gundy said.
Toronto opened a 23-point lead in the third quarter as the
Raptors held New York to just eight points.
McGrady singlehandedly outscored New York 14-8 in the third. His
10 straight points included two slam dunks, a fadaway 16-foot jump
shot, two free throws and a layup.
"I was out there for one reason," McGrady said. "To get them
stopped and that's what I did."
Dell Curry's 3-pointer with 9:38 left in the fourth gave Toronto a 79-54 lead.
Houston led New York with 17 points. Patrick Ewing was held to
just seven points. Sprewell, who guarded Carter for most of the
game, had 10.
Charles Oakley, who spent 10 seasons with the Knicks, has 15
points and six rebounds.
Game notes
Highlights from Saturday's dunk contest were shown on the
scoreboard during a time-out in the second quarter. Ewing laughed
and shook his head in disbelief as Carter's between-the-legs dunk
was shown. Fans gave Carter a rousing standing ovation, but just
seconds later John Wallace quieted the crowd by dunking over Carter. ... Canadian recording artist Kim Stockwood sang Canada's
national anthem, but added her own twist to one of the lines.
Instead of "We stand on guard for thee," she said: "Vince Carter
you are amazing." ... Dee
Brown, who underwent knee surgery last month, rejoined the Raptors
on Tuesday. Brown had been at his Orlando home rehabbing. He said
he'll be back in a "couple of weeks." ... A Knicks fan was booed
after ripping the head gear off Toronto's mascot.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 95
Philadelphia 93
Toronto 91
New York 70
Atlanta 103
New Jersey 86
Cleveland 92
San Antonio 81
Miami 107
LA Clippers 88
LA Lakers 88
Chicago 76
Denver 107
Minnesota 104
Milwaukee 112
Dallas 99
Houston 107
Detroit 102
Boston 101
Utah 99
Seattle 114
Washington 85
Portland 92
Golden State 83
Phoenix 117
Sacramento 108
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