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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) – Vince Carter took control once Chicago's Ron
Artest was ejected after two technical fouls.
|  | | 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.
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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
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