TORONTO, 20 February 2004 — Tim Duncan had 26 points and pulled down 21 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs took advantage of injuries to Vince Carter and Chris Bosh to rally past the Toronto Raptors 86-82 on Wednesday.
The defending NBA champions scored 34 points in the fourth quarter to win their sixth straight game and move to within two and a half games of first place Minnesota in the Midwest Division standings.
Carter left the game in the final quarter with a left ankle sprain after colliding with Bruce Bowen and Bosh played just 10 minutes before leaving in the second quarter with his recurrent ankle injury as the Raptors lost their third straight game.
Carter remained down for several minutes and had to be helped off the court by two teammates. He was expected to be tested further later.
“I question whether it was an accident or if it was on purpose,” Carter said after the game about his collision with Bowen.
“Either way, I have to live with it.”
Bowen added 13 points for the Spurs, who trailed by nine points after the first quarter.
Charlie Ward chipped in with 12 for San Antonio.
“We were really fortunate to win the game,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
“Due to their misfortune, we got a hell of a break near the end. I hope Vince is OK. “We were really lucky tonight.”
Carter had 22 points and six assists in just 29 minutes. He had four fouls in the game, including a technical, before leaving after landing on his ankle with less than eight minutes remaining.Bosh did not feel he would be out of the line-up for too long.
“It’s the same thing, just aggravating it,” Bosh said.
“I’m getting tired sitting out games ... if push comes to shove, I’ll play (on Friday).”
Alvin Williams added 19 points for the Raptors, while Donyell Marshall added 8 points and 11 rebounds.
In other games, Jason Kidd had a triple-double — 15 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists — to lead the streaking New Jersey Nets to their 11th straight win, 98-92 over the Atlanta Hawks.
New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank improved to 10-0 since taking over as coach, the best start of any head coach in NBA history. Kenyon Martin added 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, while Richard Jefferson added 24 points for New Jersey.
Stephen Jackson scored 25 points to lead the Hawks, while Jason Terry added 22 points. Newly-acquired Rasheed Wallace, the subject of trade rumors once again as the NBA trade deadline approaches on Thursday afternoon, added 20 points for Atlanta.
In Cleveland, Michael Finley scored 23 points lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-98 win over the Cavaliers. Steve Nash added 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Mavericks, who have won 14 of their past 18 games.
Dirk Nowitzki added 18 points for Dallas, while Antoine Walker added 11 points and 11 rebounds. Carlos Boozer led Cleveland with 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were playing for the first time since the All-Star break.
Rookie LeBron James added 16 points and nine assists, but rested for most of the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.
In Orlando, Tracy McGrady scored 43 points, hitting the 40-point mark for the second straight game, as the Magic beat the Utah Jazz 90-77. Orlando ended an eight-game losing streak with the win.
Juwan Howard, another subject of trade rumors, added 20 points and nine rebounds for the Magic. Gordan Gircek added 15 points for Orlando. Carlos Arroyo led Utah with 14 points, as the Jazz lost its third straight game.
In Detroit, Richard Hamilton scored 23 points to lead the Pistons past the Milwaukee Bucks 102-98, snapping Detroit’s six-game losing streak.
Chauncey Billups scored 20 points for the Pistons, while Ben Wallace had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Michael Redd scored 23 points for the Bucks. Desmond Mason added 20 points and 10 rebounds.
In New Orleans, Jamal Mashburn scored 26 points to lead the Hornets past the Washington Wizards 120-98.
Baron Davis had 23 points and 13 assists for the Hornets, while David West had 11 points and 10 rebounds in just 21 minutes.
Juan Dixon led the Wizards with 16 points. Washington (16-36) has lost three straight games.
In Portland, Derek Anderson scored 27 points to lead the Trail Blazers past the Los Angeles Clippers 101-86. Zach Randolph added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Elton Brand had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Clippers.
In Oakland, Kobe Bryant scored 35 points to lead the Los Angeles Lakers past the Golden State Warriors 100-99. Shaquille O’Neal had 31 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers.
