Raptors Squash Bulls 91-78

The Toronto Raptors took advantage of the Chicago Bulls' injury problems.

Rookie Vince Carter had 22 points and six blocks as the Raptors beat the Bulls 91-78 Sunday, extending their franchise-record home winning streak to six games.

The Bulls, who lost their fourth straight, played without Toni Kukoc (back strain), Ron Harper (sprained knee, dislocated finger) and Randy Brown (sprained ankle).

"We're banged up right now, and we're playing with a lot of youth and inexperience," said coach Tim Floyd, whose team shot only 34 percent from the field. "We've had better nights shooting. Tonight was not one of them. We're a team that's been struggling to score all year."

Brent Barry led Chicago with 17 points, while Mark Bryant had 13.

Doug Christie scored 20 points for Toronto, which has won eight of its last 10 games. Charles Oakley grabbed 13 rebounds for the Raptors.

"Doug and Vince made some key plays when we needed them," said coach Butch Carter. "We caught a break with three of their starters out."

The victory improved the Raptors to 14-14, the latest in the season they've ever been at .500. After 28 games last season, they were 4-24.

The Raptors outscored the Bulls 23-12 in the third quarter to take a 74-57 lead. Chicago missed 17 of 21 shots in the period.

"You need to play good defense to win basketball games and once we did that we started to slowly pull away," Christie said. "Our goal is to ultimately make the playoffs and to really make something out of Toronto basketball."

Toronto is 8-2 at its new Air Canada Center and 9-4 overall at home.

"People in the NBA are so vain," Butch Carter said. "(But) we're sending a message to the league that we can be consistent."

Notes:

The Raptors' all-time record attendance is 36,131, against the Bulls on March 24, 1996 at SkyDome. Sunday's attendance was 18,461.

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