Carter, Raptors Slam Grizzlies
Rookie Vince Carter broke in the new Air Canada Centre with a breakout performance.
Carter scored 27 points, including five high-flying dunks, to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 102-87 victory over the Vancouver Grizzlies at the new arena on Sunday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs christened the Air Canada Centre with the first NHL game there before Sunday's NBA game.
Carter scored the arena's first basket with a behind-the-back alley-oop shot.
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"Last night I was thinking it would be neat to score the first basket here," Carter said. "Being the number-one draft pick, I thought that would be neat."
Pumped by their new surroundings, the Raptors started the game with a 10-2 run and led until the Grizzlies tied the game with 9:51 to go. But Carter sparked a 10-2 run with a two-handed jam.
"I love it here, we can definitely call it home, it's very cozy and it's a great place to play," Carter said. "We looked very comfortable out there and I felt comfortable, it's going to be fun."
Carter, who has been criticized for his outside game, was 3-for-4 from 3-point range, including a key 3 with 2:29 to go to give the Raptors a six- point lead. The Grizzlies followed with two air balls and the Raptors ended the game on a 11-2 run.
"It's about time I hit some shots like that," Carter said. "They were falling and it took a lot of pressure off Kevin Willis and Doug Christie. I was hitting my shots, showing them a different weapon."
Willis posted his fifth double-double in seven games with 17 points and 15 rebounds. Christie scored 17 and Charles Oakley added 12 points, including some key jumpers down the stretch.
"He was explosive, he's just a great talent," Willis said of Carter. "He's working on his jump shot and it's getting better. I keep encouraging him to keep shoting it and keep working on it, because if he gets that going he's going to be something to reckon with."
Shareef Abdur-Rahim led the Grizzlies with 23 points. Sam Mack scored 13 and Bryant Reeves added 13 off the bench.
"They gave us an old-fashioned whopping on the court," Grizzlies coach Brian Hill said. "Vince Carter shot the ball extremely well from the outside. I'm happy for him, I've known him since high school."
Carter had 14 points in the first half as the Raptors took a 10-point lead into the break.
Notes: The privately financed arena cost $177 million. ... The Air Canada Centre holds 19,800 for basketball. The game was sold out. ... In a media presentation before the game, NBA commissioner David Stern said basketball fans have been "forgiving, maybe even more than we deserved." When Stern was introduced during the opening ceremonies he was booed. ... Carter's parents attended the game. ... Chris Carter, the brother of Raptors coach Butch Carter, attended the game. ... The Raptors had 49 rebounds, while the Grizzlies had 27. ... Toronto is 4-3 against their Canadian rivals.
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