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Tuesday, Dec. 21 7:00pm ET
Christie went 4-for-9 from behind arc | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Doug Christie wasted no time getting the Raptors back on track in his return to Toronto's starting lineup. Christie, who missed four games with a sprained right ankle, scored 14 of his 20 points in the first quarter as the Toronto Raptors blew out the New Jersey Nets 116-87 Tuesday night to snap a three-game losing streak. "The shots were falling. We moved the ball around extremely well and that's what you need to have night in and night out, consistency," said Christie who went 4-for-9 from behind the arc in 23 minutes. "(The ankle) is still a little sore and it's probably going to be a season-long nagging thing, but I'm just going to have to work through it." Christie didn't miss a beat coming off of his injury, pacing Toronto to a 43-24 lead after the first quarter. He had his shot working from all over the floor, connecting on three of four 3-pointers. "We jumped out early and did the things we needed to do," said Vince Carter, who had a game-high 24 points. "With Doug back it's another threat. He is an added addition at both ends of the court." Alvin Williams, nursing a sore right foot, had a career-high 12 assists, including a team-record eight in the first quarter, and Tracy McGrady had 15 points and four blocked shots off the bench. Raptors coach Butch Carter, who earlier in the day signed a contract extension through the 2002-03 season, broke Darrell Walker's club record for victories by a head coach with his 42nd against 66 losses. The Raptors, coming off a poor performance against the Lakers on Sunday, found a remedy in the lackluster Nets, who left their defense at home. Toronto led by as many as 37 points early in the fourth quarter. "This is totally refreshing," coach Carter said. "Vince was very good at making the plays he's able to do which created a lot of open shots for Doug." Johnny Newman had 22 points off the bench for the Nets, who had their modest two-game winning streak snapped. Stephon Marbury added 18 points and Jamie Feick had 12 rebounds. "We played terrible and there's no excuse," Marbury said. "We haven't beaten a contender - someone who's on their way to the championships. If the playoffs were going to start today, we wouldn't make it." The beating continued in the second quarter as Carter blew by Kendall Gill and put down a one-handed dunk and the Raptors opened a 30-point lead with 2:05 left. McGrady gave Toronto a season-high first-half point total of 75 with 46 seconds remaining when he scored on a layup with his back to the basket. "I don't know what happened to us, but Toronto had a lot going," New Jersey coach Don Casey said. "We have to face the fact that the first half was terrible." Toronto shot 65 percent from the field to New Jersey's 38 percent.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard New Jersey Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS Indiana 113 Seattle 103
Toronto 116
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