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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Vince Carter did it all Monday night and wound up
with his first career triple-double.
Carter went 13-of-19 from the field and scored 31 points, had 11
rebounds and added a career-high 10 assists as the Toronto Raptors
inched closer to their first playoff berth with a 112-103 victory
over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
| | Toronto's Vince Carter, who scored a game-high 31 points, eludes the defense of Cleveland's Cedric Henderson. |
Toronto (43-34) moved within one win or one Milwaukee loss of
clinching a postseason spot. The Bucks defeated Orlando 104-87
Monday.
"We still have to play like we're not there yet," said Carter,
who didn't record a triple-double in college. "My senior year of
high school I almost averaged a triple-double, so that was probably
the last time.
"I've been wanting this for a long time. I've never
accomplished in my career, and hopefully I'll get a lot more of
them."
Tracy McGrady had 27 points, a career-high nine assists and six
blocks as the Raptors ended a four-game home losing streak by
beating Cleveland for the fifth straight time.
"I played well, Vince played well. It's going to take a lot to
beat us. Everybody did it tonight," McGrady said. "Defense was
the key. When I'm doing it on defense, the offense will be there."
Antonio Davis had 14 points and four blocks, while Charles
Oakley added 10 rebounds.
Shawn Kemp had 22 points for Cleveland, Bob Sura 19 and Lamond
Murray 16.
"They have a couple young guys who can put up the numbers,"
Kemp said. "If you don't stop them early, they can keep it going
for four quarters."
Carter gave the Raptors, guaranteed of their first winning
season since joining the league five seasons ago, a 21-18 lead on a
3-pointer 7:25 into the game.
A minute later, Davis' shot bounced off the rim and Carter
slammed home the rebound. With the quarter winding down, Carter
dunked over Andrew DeClercq to make it 30-24, and 40 seconds later
he set up McGrady for a slam.
Carter completed another highlight-reel move two minutes into
the second quarter when he hit a one-handed alley-oop off a Muggsy
Bogues inbounds pass. The two hooked up for a similar play in the
third quarter to make it a 69-50 game.
"They've (teammates) asked me to step up and be a leader and it
felt good to hear those guys say that," Carter said. "I try to be
more vocal and to be a leader. It's an adjustment because I'm just
a second-year guy."
McGrady, meanwhile, did a bit of everything at both ends,
swatting away balls, causing turnovers and driving to the basket.
He attempted 13 free throws, making 11.
"Vince and Tracy's efficiency has gone up and so has our
play," Raptors coach Butch Carter said. "The main focus is the
progress of the two young guys and that they stayed focused."
The Cavs, down by as much as 24 points in the third quarter,
made a small charge in the fourth on a pair of Kemp dunks that
closed the gap to 98-93 with 4:28 left, but the Raptors responded
with six straight points.
"Toronto was a different team than from when they were at our
place," said Cleveland coach Randy Wittman, whose team lost 99-96
March 28 on a buzzer-beating 3 by Charles Oakley. "Oak hit a
couple shots early and got them going. I was searching for a lineup
to get us back into the game."
Game notes Doug Christie, not in uniform the previous two games with a
sore right ankle and pulled groin, dressed but did not play. ...
After getting fouled on a drive to the basket, McGrady tossed the
ball at Mark Bryant and was assessed a technical. ... Davis injured
his right leg in the second quarter but returned in the third. ...
The Cavs, already eliminated from the playoffs, had won two
straight on the road. ... The Raptors moved a half-game behind idle
Charlotte for fifth place. ... The last Raptor to record a
triple-double was Marcus Camby during the 1997-98 season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Cleveland Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 99 Atlanta 94
Philadelphia 96 Miami 80
Toronto 112 Cleveland 103
Charlotte 107 Washington 105
Milwaukee 104 Orlando 87
Minnesota 102 Detroit 100
New York 83 Indiana 81
LA Lakers 106 Seattle 103
Portland 90 Utah 86
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