Raptors Rake Bulls

In the first half, Vince Carter didn't play like the top vote getter for the NBA All-Star game. Then the third quarter started, and his skills the ones that helped him land 1.9 million votes - just took over.

"I didn't change a thing at the half. It's not all about me," Carter said Saturday after sparking the Toronto Raptors to a 106-89 victory over the Chicago Bulls.

"It's no big deal to me how well I play as long as we're winning. We were up at the half, so it doesn't matter what I did."

But he shook free in the third quarter, scoring 15 and sparking the Raptors to a 36-24 advantage that opened up an 82-62 lead.

Carter had a 3-pointer, a reverse stuff on a feed from Dell Curry and a jumper, and Curry's three 3-pointers helped the Raptors pull away with a quick 19-8 third-quarter run that opened a a 65-46 lead.

"He's an All-Star and he's somebody you want to go against to see how you match up," Artest said. "In the third quarter, I got some screens set on me and he started making his shots."

Carter said he's excited to be the top vote getter and looking forward to the All-Star weekend on Oakland, Calif., next month, where he will also participate in the slam dunk competition. His stuffs are frequently featured on TV highlight packages.

"The All-Star vote is a popularity contest, which is fine," Carter said. "Everybody's impressed by the highlight film dunk, and I'm more than that. Sometimes they don't get to see that...

"I want people to realize I can actually play basketball."

And how about those endless comparisons to another former North Carolina star who used to make dunking an art form? The player whose No. 23 was hanging from the rafters Saturday at the United Center?

"I played against Michael Jordan one time, at one of the camps," Carter said. "I've never had a chance to sit down and talk with him."

Carter finished with 22 points Saturday, Kevin Willis scored a season-high 21, Tracy McGrady had 18 and Curry 17 for the Raptors, who shot 59 percent.

Artest scored 18 for the Bulls and Elton Brand 16.

The Raptors took a 46-38 halftime lead behind the second-quarter play of another young star, McGrady.

McGrady dunked after a spectacular double clutch move on the baseline and then went high to block Brand's shot at the other end. Seconds later he bounced in a jumper and the Raptors took a seven-point second-quarter lead, one they pushed to eight by half.

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