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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
TORONTO (AP) -- Kobe Bryant said his scoring spree Sunday had
nothing to do with playing against Vince Carter for the first time
this season.
|  | | Toronto's Vince Carter had to stretch to keep up with the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, and while 31 points for Carter sounds impressive, going 10-for-32 from the field doesn't. |
Bryant outscored Carter 40 to 31, leading the Los Angeles Lakers
past the Toronto Raptors 104-101 in overtime.
"I wasn't concerned about that," Bryant said. "People like
individual matchups, but when all is said and done, and our careers
are over with, people are going to judge us by how many
championships we win."
Carter missed 22 of 32 shots from the field in the matchup of
two of the NBA's biggest young stars. Bryant, guarded by Carter for
most of the game, made 14 of 29.
"I think we both understand that people want to see us play
well," Carter said. "I just tried to approach it as a normal
game. Sometimes you can get overexcited, and not play your best
basketball and you go out there looking crazy."
Toronto overcame a 15-point deficit with less than five minutes
remaining in regulation, but Bryant's two free throws with 19
seconds to go in overtime gave Los Angeles a four-point lead.
"Toronto had quite a run at the end," Los Angeles coach Phil
Jackson said. "We either had tired legs or couldn't hit free
throws."
Bryant made two baskets to give Los Angeles a 15-point lead with
4:53 left in the fourth quarter, but Toronto put together a 17-2
run. Antonio Davis scored eight points, Carter made a 3-pointer and
Alvin Williams hit a free throw, narrowing Los Angeles' lead to two
points with 59 seconds remaining in regulation.
After Carter missed an 18-footer, Shaquille O'Neal missed two
free throws with 12.4 second remaining.
"There is no excuse for missing them," O'Neal said. "They
looked good. They just didn't go in."
Carter was fouled as he missed a fadeaway jumper and his two
free throws tied it 91 with 4.6 seconds left.
Carter then blocked Bryant's 3-point attempt at the buzzer,
sending the game to the extra period.
"We just resorted to shooting jumpers, and they got on a run
and forced overtime, but in overtime we did what we had to do,"
O'Neal said.
Williams' jumper gave Toronto a two-point lead, but Los Angeles went on to score six consecutive points as O'Neal made an alley-oop layup,
and Bryant and Robert Horry each made layups.
Toronto's Kevin Willis followed with a layup, but with Bryant
double-teamed, Williams fouled Horry with 55 seconds remaining.
Horry made both free throws, giving Los Angeles a four-point lead.
Willis followed with a jumper, but Bryant made his two free
throws. Charles Oakley hit a long jumper, narrowing the hosts'
deficit to two points with 4.8 seconds left.
Lakers guard Brian Shaw then made one of two free throws, and
Carter missed a long 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
"We had an opportunity to win this game," Toronto's Mark
Jackson said. "They made plays and that's why they are the world
champions."
Horry, who didn't score in regulation, scored six points in
overtime.
"They were worried about the big guns in Shaq and Kobe, so it
was an opportunity for me to sneak in," Horry said.
O'Neal, who missed the Lakers' previous game for his graduation
ceremony at Louisiana State University, scored 28 points on 12-for-17 shooting.
Carter missed seven of eight shots in the third quarter, while
Bryant scored seven points during a 19-8 run and Los Angeles led
76-64 heading into the fourth.
Game notes
Oakley fed Carter for a reverse, alley-oop dunk in the
first quarter. ... O'Neal was all smiles after Toronto's
cheerleaders missed at least 90 percent of their free-throw
attempts during a timeout contest. ... Alex Trebek of "Jeopardy!"
and Geddy Lee of Rush sat courtside. Blue Jays general manager Gord
Ash sat next to Raptors general manager Glen Grunwald. ... Los
Angeles' Rick Fox is one of two active NBA players born in Toronto.
Charlotte rookie Jamaal Magloire is the other. ... Oakley turns 37 Monday.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Lakers Clubhouse
Toronto Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 104
Toronto 101
Orlando 101
Vancouver 91
New York 100
Milwaukee 97
Dallas 99
Detroit 90
Sacramento 95
New Jersey 79
Washington 103
LA Clippers 94
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kobe Bryant works his way through the Raptors defense.
avi: 574 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Charles Oakley feeds Vince Carter on the alley-oop.
avi: 371 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Phil Jackson thinks the Raptors still need a little more leadership.
wav: 76 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Vince Carter doesn't think his team has time to dwell on this loss.
wav: 107 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
Kobe Bryant Official Site
Rick Fox Official Site
Mark Madsen Official Site
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