NBA Game Summary - New Jersey at Toronto

Toronto, ON (Basketball News) - Vince Carter returned to Toronto for the first time since leaving amid controversy and scored 39 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 101-90 victory over the Raptors.

Carter, who spent 6 1/2 years with the Raptors, was sent to the Nets in December after demanding a trade. He admitted after the deal that he did not always give 100 percent while with the Raptors, infuriating the fans in Toronto.

Carter was booed loudly when he was introduced and then every time he touched the ball and there were also extra security guards assigned to the Nets’ bench area.

Jason Kidd finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists while Brian Scalabrine contributed 16 points for New Jersey, which moved to within 1 1/2 games of Philadelphia and Cleveland for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets trailed by one entering the fourth quarter and the lead changed hands several times early in the final stanza. With the game tied at 80-80, the Nets used an 8-2 run to take the lead for good. Back-to-back field goals by Kidd capped the spurt to give New Jersey an 88-82 lead with 5 1/2 minutes remaining.

Clinging to a two-point lead, Scalabrine made a pair of free throws with 2:11 to go to give the Nets a 94-90 advantage. The Raptors would not score again as the Nets pulled away for the 11-point win.

New Jersey trailed by 14 at halftime, but stormed out of the break and took the lead, 64-63, on a dunk by Jason Collins midway through the third quarter. Carter then forced a turnover and buried a three-pointer to give the Nets a 67-63 advantage.

New Jersey scored the first five points of the game, but the Raptors answered with a 12-3 run to jump in front and remained ahead the rest of the half. Toronto made 12-of-19 shots from the field in the opening frame to take a 10- point advantage into the second quarter.

Morris Peterson hit a three-pointer with 1:08 left in the first half and two free throws by Rose stretched the Raptors’ lead to 55-39. Toronto had a chance to add to its lead, but Pape Sow missed two free throws with 23 seconds left. A field goal by Carter cut the Nets’ deficit to 55-41 at the break.