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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Charles Oakley stole the spotlight from Vince
Carter.
Oakley had a season-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Carter
scored 33 points in the Toronto Raptors' 104-90 victory over the
Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night.
|  | | Vince Carter played some tough defense on Reggie Miller, but Charles Oakley was the key to the Raptors victory. |
"Vince was Vince, but Oakley was the difference," Indiana
coach Isiah Thomas said. "Oakley was all over the place. We
couldn't control him on the boards. Once he started making shots,
he got in a rhythm. This game had his mark all over it."
Oakley was 8-for-14 from the field and made all five of his
free-throw attempts en route to his highest point total in three
seasons with the Raptors.
"I don't think about how many points I'm going to get," Oakley
said. "There is a job for everybody in this world and my job is to
bang, get loose balls, take charge and hit the jumper every now and
then."
Carter made a 3-pointer just before the end of the third quarter
and Toronto went on a 14-6 run at the start the fourth as Oakley
made two jumpers, Davis converted a layup, Carter made two
3-pointers and Alvin Williams had an uncontested dunk to give
Toronto 92-81 lead with 6:24 left.
Oakley's 18-foot jumper gave Toronto a 10-point lead with 3:55
left.
Indiana's Jermaine O'Neil, who finished with 17 points and 11
rebounds, followed with a jumper, but Oakley countered with a
jumper from the top of the key and was knocked to the floor by the
Pacers' Austin Croshere. Oakley jawed with Croshere after the foul
and then converted the free throw, giving Toronto a 98-87 lead with
just less than three minutes left.
"Oakley just busted his behind from start to finish," Carter
said. "He's the backbone of this team. Finally, he gets what he
deserves."
The crowd chanted "Oakley, Oakley!" after Charles got in the
face of Croshere. The 16-year veteran also received a standing
ovation when he left the game with 35 seconds remaining.
"Sometimes the guy who gets all the dunks and the points gets
all the recognition, but the behind-the-scenes guy, who does all
the dirty work, never gets the recognition," Carter said. "Oak
won't show it but it made him feel good."
Carter was 5-for-7 from 3-point range. His long jumper gave
Toronto a 100-87 lead with 2:30 remaining.
"Oak was a catalyst tonight," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens
said. "Oak is a smart player and he works hard on defense."
Indiana's Jalen Rose scored 22 points and Reggie Miller had 19.
Toronto's bench outscored Indiana's 21-4.
Carter scored 11 points as Toronto outscored Indiana 35-17 in
the second quarter for an 18-point halftime lead.
But O'Neil scored 12 in the third and the Raptors allowed a
season high 37 points in the period as Indiana tied it at 75 before
Carter made a 3-pointer just before the end of the third.
Game notes
Oakley played his third consecutive game after sitting out the
previous three for punching Los Angeles Clippers guard Jeff
McInnis. ... Oakley last scored 20 or more points on Jan. 6 against
Sacramento. He had 20. ... Rose had six turnovers. ... Toronto
outscored Indiana 26-15 in the fourth. ... The Raptors are now 6-0
when a player other than Carter scored 20 or more points. ... The
Raptors have beaten the Pacers twice this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Indiana Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 104
Indiana 90
Cleveland 92
Dallas 87
New Jersey 116
Minnesota 94
Atlanta 107
Sacramento 99
Miami 96
Denver 85
Seattle 97
Orlando 92
Portland 101
Golden State 93
Milwaukee 109
LA Lakers 105
 FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
Reggie Miller Official Site
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