Vince Carter showed that his right knee feels fine, and the good news didn’t come a minute too soon for the Raptors. Playing in his first game since Dec. 8, Carter scored 22 points as Toronto beat Sacramento 101-97 Sunday.
Carter, who missed 23 games because of a strained knee, scored Toronto’s last six points on his 26th birthday. “It was a very nice birthday present,” said Carter, who was voted to start the All-Star Game by the fans, despite playing in only 10 games.
McGrady has a daughter
Tracy McGrady missed Orlando’s loss after his fiancee, Layla Harris, gave birth to a daughter, ClaRenda. . . . Paul Pierce became only the sixth Celtic with a triple-double. He joins Antoine Walker (11), Robert Parish (1), Dennis Johnson (1), Kevin Gamble (1) and Larry Bird (69). . . . Portland now has 15 road wins, tied with Dallas for NBA best. . . . The Mavs are first in free-throw shooting (83.8 percent) but shot only 65 percent in Sunday’s loss to Portland.
RESULTS, SUNDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Houston 98 at Bulls 100
Complete Bulls coverage, Page 4.
Sacramento 97 at Toronto 101
Raptors snapped 5-game skid while Kings lost 2nd straight. Chris Webber had triple-double (24 pts., 19 rebs., 10 asts.).
L.A. Clippers 101 at Indiana 108
Jermaine O’Neal had 21 points, 10 rebounds and eight blocked shots as Pacers won 14th straight at home
Phoenix 98 at New York 106
Kurt Thomas had 28 pts. and season-high 17 rebs. as Knicks held Suns rookie Amare Stoudemire to 3 pts., 6 rebs.
Orlando 83 at Boston 91
Paul Pierce had 27 pts., 13 rebs. and a career-high 13 assists. “I haven’t had 13 assists since high school,” Pierce said.
Portland 100 at Dallas 93
Zach Randolph scored all 16 points in 2nd half. Blazers had 16 more rebounds and held Mavs to 13 pts. in 3rd quarter.
