Raptors Hang On To Playoff Hopes

This was another of those "must-wins" the Toronto Raptors needed to stay in the chase for the franchise's first playoff berth.

A fine all-around game from Doug Christie and a hot fourth quarter from Dee Brown made sure the mission stayed on target.

"We had to have this game," coach Butch Carter said. "I told the guys we had to have this game. I thought I was coaching it like I had to have it, and obviously they played like we had to have it. The right guys were ready at the right time, and the ball was where it was supposed to be."

Wednesday's results left Toronto, Cleveland and New York all at 21-21, one half game behind eighth-place Charlotte (21-20). Of the Raptors' eight remaining games, none are against an opponents currently with a losing record, and five are on the road.

"This was a must-win for us," forward Charles Oakley said.

In a game that was tied near the end of the third quarter, it was once again the fourth quarter that propelled the Raptors and sank the Wizards. The Raptors, 18-1 when leading after three, opened the final period with an 11-2 run for their third victory in four games.

Brown, the NBA's most prolific 3-point shooter, went 6-for-6 from long range in the fourth for 18 of his 20 points. He alone outscored the Wizards in the final period, won by the Raptors 29-15.

"It's a good feeling, the ball's coming out and you're in your rhythm and stroking the ball well," Brown said. "When I'm shooting the ball well, my teammates seem to find me."

Christie was 8-for-13 from the field, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range, and he made 8 of 10 free throws. Starting at point guad rather than shooting guard as a defensive ploy by Carter to keep Rod Strickland off the free-throw line, Christie was able to limit Strickland to four foul shots.

Strickland finished with 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and Ben Wallace had a career-high 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who overcame a 12-point first-half deficit before their familiar fourth-quarter collapse.

The Wizards, losers of three straight and nine of their last 12, have been outscored by 127 points in the fourth period this season and have lost 10 games when leading after three. They had six turnovers, were outrebounded 12-9 and made just 7 of 21 shots in the fourth Wednesday.

"We just went dead in the water again," interim coach Jim Brovelli said. "It's mental, probably. We're waiting for things to happen to us, and when you do that, normally it does happen to you."

The Raptors started the game by missing 12 of their first 14 shots to fall behind 22-13. Then they put on a show, with Christie nailing 3-pointers, and Vince Carter, Brown and Christie dazzling the crowd with Michael Jordan-like moves. Nine of their next 10 shots found the mark to kick off a 30-9 run.

Brown and Carter both displayed serious hang time in the run, double-clutching in midair for layups. Carter downed a powerful reverse slam, and Christie circled the ball behind his back on a fast-break layup. Christie had 21 points at the half.

The Wizards trailed by as much as 12 in the second quarter, but slowly closed the gap until Jeff McInnis tied it 76-76 with a jump shot late in the third quarter. Tracy McGrady then hit a jump shot at the third-quarter buzzer to put Washington down by two going into their dreadful fourth.

"It's been a roller-coaster season," Strickland said. "Mostly on the downslope."

Notes: The Raptors were playing their third game in three nights and their fifth in six nights. They went 3-2 during the hectic stretch. ... With Christie playing point guard, Alvin Williams did not start for only the second time this season. ... The loss guaranteed the Wizards their 10th losing season in 12 years.

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