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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
MIAMI (AP) -- There was no letdown for the Miami Heat. Just more
of the same success at home.
|  | | Forward Anthony Mason, left, scored 21 points in another Heat home victory. |
Anthony Mason scored 21 points to lead a balanced attack as the
Miami Heat won their ninth straight home game, beating the Toronto
Raptors 103-83 Wednesday night.
The Heat, playing for the first time following Sunday's road win
against the Lakers, put the game away with a 17-3 run to open the
fourth quarter.
After beating the Lakers on the road for the first time since
1993, the Heat were careful to stay sharp.
"We wanted to come out strong and not have a letdown," Heat
point guard Tim Hardaway said. "We beat the world champs the other
day, but we're one of the elite teams, too, and we want people to
think of us that way."
Vince Carter, showing the effects of Tuesday's double-overtime
game at Orlando, scored 21 points for the Raptors. After playing a
career-high 55 minutes the night before, Carter played 31 minutes --
only two in the fourth quarter.
The Raptors, playing their fourth game in the last six nights,
were coming off back-to-back overtime games.
"I'm sure there was some mental fatigue from playing all of
those overtime games, but that's where we have to be tougher as a
team," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We can't dig a hole.
"We had way too many turnovers (19), and we didn't play up to
our standards. Everybody has to be mentally tougher, not just the
veterans."
The Heat, 13-4 in their last 17 games, led 71-67 entering the
fourth quarter and put the game away behind the scoring of Eddie
Jones and Anthony Carter.
Jones finished with 18 points, while Brian Grant followed with
17 and Hardaway added 15. Carter scored nine points off the bench,
seven in the fourth quarter.
"We had a lot of energy in the fourth quarter and had that
run," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I felt that if we stayed with
our game and played at a highly energized level, that we could win
the game."
Toronto trailed 49-44 at the half, but battled back in the third
quarter and took a 61-59 lead on Carter's fade-away jumper with
3:42 left.
The Heat closed the period with a 12-6 run, sparked by Grant and
Jones, and took a 71-67 lead entering the fourth.
The lead swelled from there, and Miami built an 88-70 cushion on
Dan Majerle's 3-pointer with 7:16 left.
"We got back into the game, but when you have to fight to get
all the way back, it becomes hard to keep closing in the fourth,"
Wilkens said.
Carter sparked Miami's fourth-quarter run, nailing only his
second 3-pointer of the season to beat the shot clock, giving Miami
a 74-67 lead.
Jones hit a jump shot and a driving layup for an 80-68 lead, and
Majerle's 3-pointer produced an 18-point spread.
Jones helped set up Carter's crucial 3-pointer, although his
pass was wayward and nearly resulted in a turnover.
"The ball slipped out of my hands," Jones said. "It was a
terrible pass. Thank God it went in."
For Vince Carter, it was his lowest scoring output in eight
games, but he didn't blame his performance on fatigue.
"It's not an excuse," he said. We were still in the game in
the fourth quarter, and they (the Heat) just turned it up."
Game notes
Carter has led Toronto in scoring the last eight games. He
turns 24 on Friday. ...Miami is 12-3 at home against Eastern
Conference teams. ... The Heat have won nine straight home games
against Toronto. ... Carter was only 1-for-17 from 3-point territory
prior to hitting his shot in the third quarter.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Miami Clubhouse
RECAPS
Cleveland 94
Chicago 86
Phoenix 106
Detroit 73
Miami 103
Toronto 83
Charlotte 81
New York 67
Philadelphia 85
Houston 84
Golden State 109
New Jersey 87
Seattle 114
LA Clippers 110
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Vince Carter Official Site
Mark Jackson Official Site
Lenny Wilkens Official Site
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