TORONTO - Vince Carter had 19 points and the Raptors held Dallas to its lowest-scoring game in nearly six years, beating the Mavericks 77-71 Thursday night.
Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 27 points, but had just four in the second half. It was the fewest points the Mavericks have scored in a game since they were held to 67 in a loss to the Knicks on Dec. 22, 1997.
Antonio Davis had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Morris Peterson added 12 points for the Raptors, who rebounded from the lowest-scoring game in franchise history. Minnesota beat Toronto 73-56 Saturday.
Antoine Walker had 14 points and 17 rebounds for the Mavericks, but also committed nine turnovers. Michael Finley went 4-for-13 from the field for 11 points.
Dallas was without point guard Steve Nash, who sat out with a strained left shoulder. That ended his streak of 195 consecutive games played.
Carter's put-back dunk gave Toronto a 70-67 lead with 4:25 left, but Nowitzki followed with two free throws.
Toronto's Milt Palacio then had a fastbreak layup, but Finley made two free throws to cut the lead to one with 1:02 left.
Carter fed Peterson for a layup to give Toronto a 74-71 lead.
After Walker missed a 3-pointer, Carter missed two free throws with 21 seconds left.
Tony Delk's inbounds pass deflected off Nowitzki's hands, and Carter picked it up. He was fouled before making one of two free-throw attempts for a 75-71 lead.
After Walker missed a long jumper, Peterson made two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win.
Nowitzki scored eight points in the last two minutes of the first half when the Mavericks cut an early Toronto lead to two. Rookie Chris Bosh guarded Nowitzki during his scoring spurt.
Nowitzki went 1-for-9 from the field for just nine points in Wednesday's 100-90 loss to Washington.
PACERS 87, NETS 81: Former Net Anthony Johnson held off a late New Jersey rally with two straight 3-pointers and visiting Indiana won its third straight game.
Ron Artest had 21 points, Johnson added 17 and Jermaine O'Neal had 15 for the Pacers, who saw a 19-point third-quarter lead shrink to two with just under three minutes left.
Kerry Kittles had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead the Nets, who struggled with their shooting for the second straight game. Richard Jefferson added 18, and Aaron Williams had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Jason Kidd finished with 10 points and eight assists after a 4-for-13 shooting night.
Johnson, who became a free agent after last season, got the best of his former teammates after Jason Collins hit two free throws with 3:48 to play to get New Jersey within 76-74.
With Kidd leaving him open in an attempt to double the ball, Johnson stood deep in the left corner and nailed a 3-pointer to put the Pacers ahead 79-74.
After Kidd turned the ball over at the other end of the floor, Johnson went back to the left corner and waited. O'Neal found him open with a cross-court pass and Johnson hit nothing but net again.
The Nets got within 82-79 with 42 seconds to go on a 3-pointer by Jefferson. Artest, however, stretched the lead to five with two free throws with 31.1 seconds to go, and Johnson added two more after Kidd missed a jumper.
BUCKS: Forward Brian Skinner had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee and is expected to miss six weeks.
CAVALIERS: Forward Jelani McCoy was released. He played just 12 minutes in two games.
HEAT: Reserve forward Malik Allen had right foot surgery and will be sidelined six to eight weeks.
HORNETS: Guard Darrell Armstrong's trial on charges of battery on a police officer and resisting arrest without violence will begin Dec. 1 in Orlando. The former Magic standout is accused of slapping a policewoman's hand outside an Orlando nightclub on July 7.
JAZZ: Forward Matt Harpring will miss tonight's game at Golden State to attend his grandmother's funeral in Cincinnati.
