|
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- The Phoenix Suns had the rare opportunity to take
advantage of a home team. They didn't waste it.
|  | | Raptors guard Alvin Williams, left, figured out one way to slow down the Suns' Jason Kidd. |
Jason Kidd had 24 points and four other Suns scored in double
figures in a 95-87 victory Sunday over the Toronto Raptors.
"They had a tough road trip," Kidd said. "They came back from
California yesterday, and went against a track-meet team. We went
up and down, and they might have been a little tired."
Vince Carter scored 35 points, but made just 12 of his franchise
record 34 shots from the field.
Toronto's other starters combined for just 23 points.
"It was like we were still on the airplane. It was like we
didn't even get out of our seats," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens
said. "I thought Vince tried to carry the load too much. We have
to help him. We have to have someone step up."
Phoenix's Clifford Robinson scored 22 points, Rodney Rogers 19,
Tony Delk 12 and Shawn Marion 11, including two key baskets in the
last two minutes.
Marion said the Suns defended Carter well.
"He took a lot of crazy shots and a lot of them went in, but we
kept our poise," Marion said. "We denied him the ball, and they
don't have anyone else to go to."
Kidd and Robinson hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Phoenix a
85-77 lead with 3:50 remaining, but Toronto went on a 6-0 run as
Carter converted two free throws, Alvin Williams hit an 18-foot
jumper and Mark Jackson made a jumper with just over two minutes
left.
After Williams missed a long 3-point attempt, Marion made a jump
hook and Kidd made one of two free throws. Williams then missed a
layup and Marion followed with another jump hook, giving Phoenix a
90-83 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Carter's previous high for shot attempts was 32, done twice
before.
"I wanted to step it up and hopefully spark the team. It was
working for a while but we couldn't get them in the end," Carter
said. "We have to avoid getting into a hole because it takes too
much energy to come back."
The Suns led 41-20 with 7:10 remaining in the first half, but
the Raptors went on a 21-4 run as Morris Peterson scored nine
points and Carter had six to help narrow Phoenix's lead to four
points.
After the Raptors scored the first basket of the game, Phoenix
went on a 13-0 run as Toronto made just one of its next 12 shots.
The Raptors followed with a 6-0 run before the Suns countered with
a 9-0 spurt, taking a 22-8 lead.
"You can't get down early. It's hard to fight back against good
teams," Jackson said.
Game notes
Robinson, a native of Buffalo, had 45 tickets for the game.
He donated 14 to St. Mary's School for the Deaf in Buffalo. ...
Carter made just one of his first eight shots. ... Toronto forward
Charles Oakley had a season-high 16 rebounds. ... Phoenix made 10
of their 21 3-point attempts.
|
|
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Phoenix Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Phoenix 95
Toronto 87
Boston 104
Denver 102
Dallas 99
New Jersey 73
Sacramento 101
Miami 97
LA Lakers 112
Detroit 88
 FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
|
