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Tuesday, Mar. 21 7:00pm ET
Raptors lose for 2nd time in 13 games | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets found a way to shut down Vince Carter, using Kendall Gill to guard him. Gill scored 24 points and held Carter dunk-free as the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors 100-93 on Tuesday night.
"Vince might be the best small forward off all time, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, Kendall Gill is the best defensive player in the NBA," Stephon Marbury said. Carter, guarded by Gill for most of the game and frequently double-teamed, had 23 points on 5-for-18 shooting as the Raptors lost for only the second time in 13 games. "I played against Michael Jordan for eight years, but he's not there yet," Gill said. "You can't stop Carter, but you can contain him. I got a hand in his face, I bumped him and I had some help." Toronto's Antonio Davis said it was the best defensive job on Carter he'd seen all season. "He just couldn't be himself," Davis said. "Every time he took a dribble, two or three guys surrounded him." Johnny Newman scored seven straight points on two jumpers and a three-point play to give the Nets an 84-75 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Raptors closed within four on Tracy McGrady's dunk off a missed free throw with just under six minutes remaining, but Marbury made a driving layup and a three-point play to give the Nets a 91-82 lead. Toronto's Doug Christie followed with a 3-pointer to close within six, but Gill followed with a jumper to make it 93-85. Keith Van Horn's driving layup made it 95-87 with 2:40 remaining, and Marbury's driving layup with 1:29 to go made it 97-89. "Gill did a tremendous job on Carter," New Jersey coach Don Casey said. "He jammed him up as much as possible, and that's not easy." Marbury had 18 points and seven assists. Newman finished with 14 points for the Nets, who shot 51 percent from the field to move within two games of Orlando for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. Tracy McGrady had 22 points and 12 rebounds for Toronto, which shot 38 percent. "I'm glad it's over," Carter said. "I just wasn't hitting shots." The Raptors were 14-for-14 from the line as they led 50-46 at the half.
Game notes | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard New Jersey Clubhouse Toronto Clubhouse RECAPS New Jersey 100 Toronto 93
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