Raptors Hand Cavs First Loss

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn't surprise the Toronto Raptors.

Vince Carter scored 32 points and five other Raptors scored in double figures as Toronto handed the Cavaliers their first loss of the season, a 115-88 rout Friday night.

"Toronto gave us a good whooping," Cleveland coach Randy Wittman said. "If we were too comfortable, this was a good reality check."

The Raptors, who shot 54 percent from the field, have won three straight games after losing their first three.

The Cavaliers entered the game a surprising 4-0.

"It's early in the season," Toronto's Charles Oakley said. "We'll see where they're at in 20 games."

"You can't just worry about me," Carter said. "You have four or five other guys to worry about."

Corliss Williamson had 12 points, and Morris Peterson had 11 for the Raptors, who shot 15-for-22 from the field in the third quarter.

"This is the first game this year that we didn't put out energy at the defensive end, and you can see what happens," Cleveland's Matt Harpring said.

Carter's 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter gave Toronto an insurmountable 30-point lead.

"We came out aggressive," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "That helps us defensively, and it spills over offensively."

The Raptors outrebounded Cleveland 49-34.

Gatling scored a team-high 17 points for Clevelad. Harpring added 14 points. Lamond Murray made just one of his nine shots and finished with two points.

"We came out flat," Gatling said. "We weren't our high energy selves."

Toronto finished the second quarter with a 9-0 run and led by 17 points at halftime. Carter scored 15 points in the first half, and Jackson added 14.

"Vince was Vince invincible," Gatling said. "We'd try to get back in the game and Vince would hit a three."

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