Indiana Pacers/Toronto Raptors NBA recap on ESPN

Carter, sporting a new look with knee-high white socks, scored 33 points for the Raptors in handing the Pacers their sixth straight road loss, 102-81 Tuesday night.

Carter scored 22 points in the first quarter and had 29 by halftime as Toronto swept the season series over Indiana, 4-0.

"I felt really comfortable and my first thought was to take the shot because it felt so good, especially from behind the arc," Carter said. "I just wanted to set the tone and hope everybody followed."

And the socks?

"It was just something I wanted to do," he said with a shrug.

While Carter didn't have much to say about his new look – he's used them a few times in practice and was obviously inspired by new arrival and long-sock wearer Jerome Williams – his teammates were having some fun with him after the game.

"I'm happy for him. He's gaining new friends ...," said Antonio Davis with a laugh before Carter snapped him with a towel. "Way to go, V."

The Pacers dropped into a tie with Boston for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"Vince Carter's ability to hit 3-pointers in the first half really hurt us," Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said. "He was just catching and shooting. We had a hand in his face, but there's not much you can do about that.

Carter hit his first four 3-point shots, including three in 54 seconds. He scored 18 of Toronto's first 22 points as the Raptors turned an early 21-11 deficit into a 37-30 lead midway through the second quarter.

"We had a slow start and we wanted to jump on them right away," Raptors coach Lenny Wilkens said. "I still felt like we would turn it around even though we were down a few points."

Carter closed off the second quarter with a long jumper and a flying two-handed dunk for a 55-45 lead.

"Vince went off and we lost control of the game," Harrington said. "We struggled in the second quarter."

Carter shot 12-for-16 and had seven rebounds but was only 5-for-10 from the line. Davis had 11 points and four blocks.

"There comes a time when you have to step up and demand that you win games like that," Davis said.

Keon Clark also had four blocks and added 14 points for the Raptors, who had lost two in a row. Alvin Williams chipped in 10 points.

"It's a big win for us to position ourselves," Clark said. "We're not happy with being seventh (in the Eastern Conference) and we want to go as high as we can."

Al Harrington scored 20 points for the Pacers, who had won two straight overall. Reggie Miller, who was jawing with Charles Oakley a few times, had 18 points and Jalen Rose added 16. Jermaine O'Neal had 14 rebounds and four blocks.

"You have to give the Raptors credit," said Miller, whose team shot only 37 percent. "They stepped up their defense ... and our shots just weren't falling."

The Pacers, who trailed by as much as 19 points in the third quarter, closed the gap to 81-72 to start the fourth quarter on Rose's three free throws but that was as close as they got.

"We started off pretty well, but we got content," Rose said. "The reality is, as bad as we're playing, we've got to get some wins."

Game notes
Toronto is 6-17 lifetime against Indiana. ... Rose fouled out with 3:56 left in the fourth. ... Carter went down in a heap after being hit by O'Neal's elbow on a layup in the third quarter, but was able to continue. ... Charles Barkley, who was doing commentary for TBS, was shooting 3-pointers before the game. ... Actor Edward Norton was courtside. ... Public address announcer Herbie Kuhn accidentally said Tracy McGrady's name instead of Tracy Murray's on a foul call and received a friendly pat from Carter and a kiss on his bald head from Antonio Davis. ... Derrick McKey played his first game for the Pacers since returning from a lower back strain.

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RECAPS
New York 110
Cleveland 75

New Jersey 104
Vancouver 90

Toronto 102
Indiana 81

Orlando 103
Chicago 95

Portland 96
Dallas 88

Phoenix 105
Washington 91

Utah 84
Detroit 79

LA Clippers 88
Philadelphia 77

Sacramento 125
Houston 109

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