Raptors rout Nets 101-79, Carter goes 0-for-13

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.(AP) The worst shooting
performance of Vince Carter's career allowed interim coach Jay Triano
to see more positive signs from the Toronto Raptors.Chris Bosh
scored 18 points and Toronto capitalized on Carter's 0-for-13 night
against his former team to beat the New Jersey Nets 101-79 on Friday,
the Raptors' second straight win under Triano."We're getting to
where we want to be,'' Triano said. "We really have to clean up our
rebounding. The job isn't done on the defensive end until we rebound
the basketball. That will come. That's the final part of what we're
trying to do. On offense, we're starting to get some flow running the
ball. Instead of looking over for plays, run the floor and create on
your own.''Jason Kapono, with four 3-pointers, and Joey Graham
each had 16 points for the Raptors, who were outrebounded 50-37. Jose
Calderon scored 13 as the Raptors improved to 2-3 under Triano, who
replaced Sam Mitchell on Dec. 3.Yi Jianlian and Devin Harris led the Nets with 14 apiece, while Bobby Simmons had 12.Carter
finished with three points. He came in averaging 22.3 points before the
first game in his career that he failed to make a shot from the field
when playing at least 10 minutes.Carter skipped his usual postgame press conference, leaving it to others to explain his night."Unfortunately,
you have nights like that,'' Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "It's just
one of those things where they have everyone in the paint, so they're
giving you the jump shot. It's not just him. We couldn't buy a shot.''The Nets shot only 26-of-83 from the field (31 percent)."Our
defensive schemes were solid,'' Kapono said. "We shut down the paint,
closed the gaps. Vince missed a lot of shots but that was our game
plan, to force guys to make shots from outside.''And New Jersey, especially Carter, couldn't make enough."He
had a tough night,'' said Harris, Carter's backcourt partner. "I know
he probably takes this a little bit harder against his former team.
We're all going to have those nights. I know he'll bounce back. I'm not
too worried about him.''The Nets (11-10) continued to struggle
at home at 4-7. New Jersey is 7-3 on the road and is the only team with
a winning record that is below .500 at home.The Raptors scored
the final 10 points to take a 40-34 lead at end of the turnover-filled
first half. The Nets had 11 turnovers; the Raptors coughed up the ball
eight times.Toronto put together another streak in the third, a
12-0 run, to open a 57- 42 lead, with Calderon and Kapono each chipping
in a 3-pointer. Toronto built a 71-53 lead heading into the fourth
quarter.Notes: Calderon made two from the line with 10:50
remaining in the third to set an NBA record with 54 consecutive made
free throws to start the season. Steve Nash held the old mark of 53 set
last year. ... Carter moved past Richard Jefferson into fourth place on
the Nets' career assists list. Jefferson had 1,486. ... The Raptors
became the first team to make a 3-pointer in 800 consecutive games when
Calderon connected in the first period. ... Stromile Swift (sprained
right ankle) and Jarvis Hayes (strained right hamstring) remain
sidelined for the Nets. ... Josh Boone dressed for the Nets for first
time in 14 games. He missed 12 with a left ankle contusion and sat out
New Jersey's last game as a healthy scratch. ... Kris Humphries (right
knee tendinitis) and Anthony Parker (sprained left ankle) did not dress
for Toronto.