RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- The Toronto Raptors struggle against
Charlotte with Vince Carter in the lineup. Without him, they don't
stand a chance.
|  | | Without having to guard Vince Carter, David Wesley could focus more on his offense. He scored 32 points. |
David Wesley scored a season-high 32 points to lead the Hornets
to their sixth straight victory, 103-79 over Toronto on Wednesday
night.
Toronto, which was without Carter for its second straight game because of a strained left quadriceps, has now dropped five straight to Charlotte and fell to 5-16 lifetime against the Hornets.
"I don't think it's fair to say we own them, we just happened
to click tonight," Charlotte coach Paul Silas said.
While Carter, the NBA's second-leading scorer at 27.5 points per
game, remained in Canada receiving treatment, the Raptors never
found an offensive rhythm.
Toronto shot 34 percent for the game, made just one 3-pointer,
and scored only two fast-break points.
"We did not execute on offense," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens
said. "We saw only one option and then some guys just forgot. We
have certain things that we can run whether Carter is in the game
or not, and we didn't execute any of it."
With Carter out, Wesley had the luxury of playing less defense and taking more shots. He finished the game 12-for-19 from the floor, 7-of-9 from the free throw line and also had six assists.
"I spent the whole day feeling the pain, and it hurts me that Vince didn't play," Wesley said. "But I got over it."
The Hornets dominated from the start and made Alvin Williams,
Carter's replacement, look foolish on numerous plays.
Leading 35-26 in the second quarter, Baron Davis froze Williams
under the basket when he took a sharp pass from Wesley and
converted it into a reverse slam dunk.
On the next trip down the floor, Williams was again confused
when Davis rebounded P.J. Brown's miss and tossed it over Williams'
head and through the hoop.
Before the half was over, the Hornets had a 58-40 lead behind 65 percent shooting.
"We didn't play with any emotion," said Toronto forward
Charles Oakley. "We have individuals that need to take
responsibility and know where they should be offensively."
Toronto mounted a mini-comeback in the third quarter, cutting
the score to 68-58 on Mark Jackson's 3-pointer with 4:04 to go in
the period.
But Charlotte answered with six straight points to retake
control. Wesley hit a 16-foot jumper, Jamaal Magloire blocked
Williams' shot at the other end and Wesley converted it into a
driving layup.
Magloire then blocked Jackson's shot and the Hornets made it
74-58 on a fast-break jump shot by Davis.
"My fear was we were going to take them lightly without Vince,
so I am proud of my guys for stepping up to the challenge and they
came away with a sweet victory," Silas said.
Jamal Mashburn finished with 18 points for Charlotte. Davis had
14 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
Antonio Davis led Toronto with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Williams had 12 and Corliss Williamson and Jackson added 11 each.
Game notes
Charlotte coach Paul Silas said he isn't expecting Derrick
Coleman to be in shape to play for at least another month. Coleman
was placed on injured list on Nov. 18 so he could work on his
conditioning and Silas said the forward has lost about 10 lbs.
during the time. ... The Raptors have lost 11 of their last 13
games against Charlotte. ... The Hornets are 4-0 when they score
over 100 points. ... Dell Curry, who started in place of Carter on
Tuesday night, came off the bench and had just four points.
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NBA Scoreboard
Toronto Clubhouse
Charlotte Clubhouse
Raptors' Carter grounded with case of 'jumper's knee'
RECAPS
Philadelphia 93
Washington 87
Charlotte 103
Toronto 79
Detroit 97
New Jersey 76
Utah 88
Orlando 86
Denver 107
Minnesota 100
Miami 84
New York 81
San Antonio 82
Sacramento 79
Vancouver 109
Phoenix 106
LA Clippers 106
Golden State 83
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