Toronto ? Vince Carter was the main topic of conversation, and the five-time All-Star wasn’t even in the building when his new team played his old team.
Lamond Murray scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and Toronto Raptors beat the New Jersey Nets 110-99 on Sunday, their first victory of the post-Carter era.
Carter wasn’t at the Air Canada Centre because Toronto’s trade with New Jersey isn’t expected to be finalized until noon Monday. The Raptors traded their biggest star on Friday to the Nets for Eric Williams, Aaron Williams, Alonzo Mourning and two first-round draft picks.
The Williamses didn’t play either, but sat in the stands behind the Raptors bench. Mourning may never play for Toronto.
“When people think of the Toronto Raptors they think of Vince Carter, and now it’s going to be up to other guys to step up and show what they can do,” said Morris Peterson, who had 20 points.
Richard Jefferson had a season-high 38 points for the Nets, who don’t know when Carter will be able to play. Carter underwent his physical on Saturday, and a Nets spokesman said they’re still analyzing it.
Carter is on the injured list with a strained left Achilles’ tendon.
“We can’t wait for anybody on the outside to help us. We’ve got to help us. There’s no one person that’s ever the remedy,” New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said.
Murray, who could play more now that Carter is gone, recorded his highest scoring game with Toronto. He scored 12 points as the Raptors began the fourth quarter on a 17-4 run.
His 3-pointer gave Toronto a 96-80 lead with 6:53 left. New Jersey never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.
“Now everybody gets an opportunity. It’s not really one guy now,” Murray said. “MoPete has now stepped into the starting spot at the two. His role is definitely going to increase.” .
Peterson made four of Toronto’s 14 3-pointers. Toronto lost Friday’s game to Indiana – their first game without Carter.
Toronto coach Sam Mitchell hasn’t announced who will start when the trade is completed, but if Murray is right when he says Peterson is now the starting two guard, Jalen Rose could lose his starting spot if Mitchell decides to start Eric Williams at small forward.
Notes: Carter attended a Nets meeting Sunday, but Frank doesn’t know when he’ll play. “There is obviously a great deal of tenderness there. We’ve seen it during the examination. We’re going to be prudent,” Frank said. … A report in Tacoma, Wash., paper suggested Carter might have sabotaged the Raptors in a game against the SuperSonics last month by intentionally tipping off a play during the final minute of a loss. “I would hope he didn’t do anything like that,” Peterson said. “You could ask anybody in this locker room. It’s a rule of thumb, you never give away your plays, if you are going to be here or not. I hope that wasn’t the case.” Toronto coach Sam Mitchell didn’t totally dismiss the report. “I’m not questioning that it’s untrue. It’s just not worth my time to go back and rehash that. It does me no good,” Mitchell said.
