TORONTO, 17 April 2005 — Vince Carter was loudly booed in his first game back in Toronto and made no new friends scoring 39 points as the New Jersey Nets kept their playoff hopes alive with a 101-90 win over the Raptors on Friday.
Once the city’s favorite sports celebrity, Carter became public enemy No. 1 among Toronto sports fans after he demanded a trade earlier in the season and then admitted he never gave 100 percent while playing in the NBA’s northern outpost.
Carter was booed during team introductions by a capacity crowd at the Air Canada Center and jeered every time he touched the ball.
If the unwanted attention bothered Carter, it did not show in his performance as he also had nine rebounds and four assists to help keep the Nets in the chase for an Eastern Conference playoff berth with three games to play.
As usual, the Nets got plenty of production out of their other all-star Jason Kidd, who chipped in with 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 22 points as the Nuggets rolled for an 111-102 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, who once again failed to secure a playoff spot. While the Nuggets head toward the postseason riding a 10-game winning streak, the Grizzlies lost for the third straight time, unable to get the win they need to lock up a postseason berth.
In Salt Lake City, NBA MVP Kevin Garnett had 22 points as the Timberwolves kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 100-84 win over the Jazz. Wally Szczerbiak had 17 points and eight rebounds and Sam Cassell added 14 for the Grizzlies, who must win all three of their remaining games to have any chance of reaching the postseason.
In Boston, Paul Pierce hit an 20-foot jump shot with nine seconds to play then made a clutch free throw as the Celtics edged the fading Miami Heat 101-99, to win for the fifth time in six games and inch closer to their first Atlantic Division title in 13 years.
Shaquille O’Neal, working his way back into shape after missing three games with a stomach virus, had a game-high 34 points and Dwyane Wade added 17.
In Phoenix, Amare Stoudemire poured in 24 points and added 17 rebounds in leading the Suns to a 98-91 decision over the Los Angeles Clippers, improving their NBA-best record to 60-19. Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson each had 20 for the Suns while Steve Nash added 14 points and 11 assists.
In Indianapolis, Allen Iverson continued to lead the Philadelphia’s drive towards a playoff spot scoring 43 points, including 16 in the final quarter, as the 76ers held on to beat the Indiana Pacers 90-86. Iverson, who played 53 minutes a day earlier against Miami, appears determined to get the 76ers into the postseason dishing out seven assists and four rebounds in another tireless effort.
In Washington, Gilbert Arenas nailed 33 points and Larry Hughes 31 as the Wizards dumped Cleveland 119-111, damaging the slumping Cavaliers playoff hopes.
LeBron James continued to do all he could to push the Cavaliers into the postseason, playing all 48 minutes for the third time in five games, scoring a game-high 38 points while snaring six rebounds and dishing out six assists.
In Auburn Hills, reserve Ronald Dupree had career-high 20 points and Tayshaun Prince added 17 points as the NBA champion Detroit Pistons continued to build momentum towards the playoffs, crushing the Milwaukee Bucks 99-73 for their ninth straight win.
In Chicago, the Bulls had seven players in double figures, led by 17 point efforts from rookies Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni, on their way to a 117-77 demolition of the Orlando Magic. The big win comes a day after learning leading scorer Eddy Curry would be lost for the rest of the season with an irregular heartbeat, sending a message that the Bulls still plan to be force in the playoffs.
In Oakland, Mike Dunleavy scored 20 points and Baron Davis added 19 as the Golden State Warriors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 108-88 to snap a three-game losing skid.
In Seattle, Ray Allen scored 32 points as the Seattle SuperSonics snapped a six-game losing run with a 97-72 win over the New Orleans Hornets to clinch the Northwest Division title.
In Los Angeles, Mike Bibby had 26 points leading the Sacramento Kings to a 115-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
