RAPTORS: IBM Post Game Instant Replay

TORONTO, April 6 (Ticker) -- Kenyon Martin scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the New Jersey Nets captured the season series from the Toronto Raptors for the first time in five years with a 96-87 victory.

Martin had missed three games with a sprained right knee and was listed as questionable right until game time, but returned in time to lead New Jersey to its third straight victory in a series that concludes at Continental Airlines Arena on April 12.

The Nets, who have won five of their last six meetings with the Raptors overall, took the season series for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign, when they won three of four meetings between the teams.

Richard Jefferson added 16 points and Lucious Harris - who also sat out the past three contests with a sprained left ankle - contributed 15 for New Jersey, which has won six of its past seven to move into a tie with the Detroit Pistons for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday night.

Vince Carter led Toronto with 28 points but twisted his left ankle with 31 seconds left. Carter went up for a turnaround jumper and came down awkwardly.

QUICK HITS

Lenny Wilkens coached his 2,400th game today.

Vince Carter recorded a Raptors season-high for points in a quarter scoring 17 in the first frame (old: 16: Carter, Nov. 29 at Boston (1st )) … He finished the first half with 20 of Toronto’s 46 points on seven-of-11 shooting … He finished the game with 28 points shooting three-of-14 in the second half.

Carter left the game with under a minute remaining after sustaining what is being described as a moderate ankle sprain. X-Rays were apparently negative, but team officials do not expect him to return this season.

There were eight lead changes in the first quarter with neither team leading by more than four points.

Toronto shot .526 in the first quarter (10-19) and finished the game shooting at a .415 (34-82) clip.

The Raptors’ bench was outscored 19-5 in the first half and 29-14 in the game.

The Nets went on a 16-3 run in the third quarter and outscored the Raptors 29-19 in the period.

Morris Peterson and Vince Carter combined for 52.9 per cent (46 of 87) of Toronto’s points.

The Raptors have won four of their last six games versus the Nets at Air Canada Centre but have dropped both games at home against New Jersey this season … It is only the second time in franchise history the Raptors dropped both home games in a season to the Nets (1997-98).

Vince Carter set a new season-high for free throws made and attempted with eight-of-nine (old: six, three times, and eight, twice)

Maceo Baston went two-of-two from the field today to mark the third time in his 14 career NBA games that he has shot perfect from the field.

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Post Game Quotes

PLAYER OF THE GAME

VINCE CARTER

Vince came out hot in this one, scoring 20 points in the first half alone. He left the game in the fourth with 28 points four rebounds and three assists.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Ankles are a hot spot and you can get a lot of pain down in that area, especially when all your weight comes down on somebody’s foot like that. I just hope that it is just a sprain and nothing else. At this point it pretty much tells the story of our year,” Jerome Williams.

KEY STAT

The Nets outscored the Raptors 33-14 on the fast break and the third quarter sealed the victory where the Nets held a 10-point edge.

LINE OF THE GAME

Kenyon Martin:K-Mart was his usual dominant self, scoring 24 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing off four assists.

TOP HIGHLIGHT

Early in the third quarter, Vince Carter blew by a pair of Nets defenders and went up and under the rim for the smooth reverse lay-in.

HUSTLE BOARD

Team	RB	ST	BLK	TOT
NJN	39	4	4	47
TOR	39	5	4	48

LEADERBOARD
TORONTO		SAN ANTONIO
J. McCoy	Points: V. Carter - 28 Rebounds: J. McCoy -9 Assists: A. Williams – 8	J. Kidd	Points: K. Martin - 24 Rebounds: K. Martin - 10 Assists: J. Kidd - 13