Place an Ad Calendars Classified Forums Sports Weather

sptimes.com Text-only News sections Arts & Entertainment AP The Wire Business Citrus County Columnists Floridian Hernando County Hillsborough Letters Movies Neighborhood Times News Update North Pinellas North of Tampa Obituaries Opinion Pasco County South Pinellas Sports State Tampa Bay TV Times World & Nation  Find your local news section Weekly sections Brandon Times City Times Homes Outdoors Perspective Personal Tech Taste Travel Weekend Xpress Special Sections Arena football Buccaneers College football Devil Rays Lightning Police reports Schools Seniority Subscriber Services Subscribe Renew Help Advertise Place an ad In print Online Market Info Join Us Internships Scholarships Times Jobs Contact us

Raptors top Celts, snap 6-game skid

BOSTON -- On a night when the attention was focused on Vince Carter's return to the starting lineup, Raptors teammate Morris Peterson caught the Celtics by surprise.

Carter scored 23 in his first start since Nov. 2, but it was Peterson's career-high 31 points that sparked the Raptors to a 98-95 victory over Boston on Friday night, snapping Toronto's six-game losing streak.

"Most definitely, having Vince back helps. It kind of takes a load off," said Peterson, who shot 12-of-18 from the field after shooting 17-for-64 in the previous four games.

Of his struggles, Peterson said: "I was pressing a little bit, trying to do too much, instead of letting the game come to me. Tonight I made up my mind to let the game come to me. I played hard tonight and the shots began to fall."

It was Carter's second game after missing the team's past 10 with a strained quadriceps muscle in his left knee. In Wednesday night's loss to the Wizards, he scored 16 and had seven rebounds in 24 minutes; on Friday night, he scored 16 in the first quarter.

Antoine Walker tied a season high with 31 points for the Celtics, who had won four straight.

HAWKS 100, HEAT 94 (OT): Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 29 as host Atlanta rallied from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter.

Miami's Mike James hit a 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 88.

Abdur-Rahim put the Hawks ahead for good at 94-91 on a jumper with 2:41 left, then Atlanta sealed it at the free-throw line.

The Hawks made all eight free throws in overtime and finished 37-for-44. Miami was 18-for-24.

Malik Allen scored 21 and Eddie Jones 20 to lead the Heat, which shot 35 percent (36-for-103) from the field.

LAKERS 112, GRIZZLIES 106 (OT): Kobe Bryant scored eight of his 45 in overtime to lead visiting Los Angeles. It was the Grizzlies' first regular-season game against Los Angeles since former Lakers star and general manager Jerry West came out of retirement to become president of Memphis' basketball operations in April.

Shaquille O'Neal tied it at 98 with a free throw with 11 seconds left in regulation but missed his second. Most of the Lakers' scoring came from Bryant and O'Neal, who had 33 points and 13 rebounds. Pau Gasol led Memphis with 24 points.

KINGS 107, CLIPPERS 94: Bobby Jackson scored a career-high 31 and Doug Christie a season-high 25 as short-handed Sacramento remained perfect (8-0) at home.

With Peja Stojakovic and Hedo Turkoglu joining injured teammates Mike Bibby, Mateen Cleaves and Scot Pollard on the bench, Sacramento dressed the league-minimum eight players. And Chris Webber scored 16 for the Kings despite a severe case of the flu that forced him to the locker room twice.

Elton Brand had 25 points and 12 rebounds for Los Angeles.

PACERS 100, WIZARDS 84: Michael Jordan might be retiring, but Reggie Miller can still play. The 37-year-old scored 17 of his 25 in the third, and Ron Artest added 21 for host Indiana.

With the Pacers down by six in the third, Miller pump-faked Larry Hughes and made a 3-pointer and the free throw to pull within 61-59. Miller then hit 3s on the next two possessions.

Jordan, who turns 40 in February, said Thursday there was "zero chance" he will play next season. Jordan hit a jumper for a 66-65 lead, Miller answered with two free throws and Jordan, who scored 14, hit another 18-footer for Washington's last lead.

76ERS 106, CAVS 99: Allen Iverson took over in the final two minutes and visiting Philadelphia withstood Cleveland's fourth-quarter comeback. The Cavs reduced an 18-point deficit in the fourth to two with 2:02 left.

Iverson, who finished with 29 points, then made two steals, hit a driving layup over Jumaine Jones and sank two free throws as Philadelphia beat Cleveland a 14th straight time. Rookie guard Dajuan Wagner led the Cavs with 29.

Cleveland coach John Lucas suspended guard Ricky Davis two games for "disciplinary reasons" after the loss.

WARRIORS 92, NUGGETS 82: Earl Boykins scored 20 and had six of his seven steals in the third for visiting Golden State. Juwan Howard had 19 points and 13 rebounds for Denver. The Nuggets, the league's worst scoring team, had 25 turnovers -- 15 in the second half. Denver led by as much as 21 midway through the third, but the Warriors closed the quarter with a 23-2 run to get within 67-66.

JAZZ 95, TIMBERWOLVES 77: Matt Harpring set a career high for the second straight game with 33 points and host Utah won its sixth straight. Coming off a career-high 30 against the Clippers on Tuesday, Harpring made 13-of-18, including all four 3-pointers. Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 21 points and 13 rebounds.

SUNS 94, SPURS 87: Stephon Marbury scored 43, including a team-record 26 points in the fourth quarter for host Phoenix. Shawn Marion and Scott Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds each to help the Suns win their third straight. San Antonio's Tim Duncan had 31 points and 15 rebounds.

PISTONS 96, BUCKS 91: Richard Hamilton scored 20 and Ben Wallace added 12 points and 21 rebounds for host Detroit. Milwaukee, which lost a third time in four games, got a game-high 27 points from Sam Cassell. The Bucks pulled within 92-91 with 1:06 left, but Tim Thomas and Cassell both missed 3s.

CLIPPERS: Forward Corey Maggette had surgery on his right knee and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright