DPA/Los Ageles
Vince Carter turned back time Monday night, and put on a vintage one-man show.
Carter fired in 34 of his season-high 48 points in the second half, rallying the Orlando Magic from 17 down to beat the visiting New Orleans Hornets 123-117.
“That was unbelievable,” Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. “There have been better performances, but not a whole lot of them and not one I’ve seen on my team in a long time.
“That was vintage Vince Carter. He did it all tonight.”
Carter connected on 19-of-27 shots, including 6-of-10 on threes in 38 minutes, to come within three points of matching his career-high.
“I just tried to be aggressive and make my shots,” he said. “It was a great feeling knowing you’re rolling like that for your team.
“You look at this team, and we have so many weapons. I never imagined I would have this type of game. But when they need me I’m going to do it.”
Dwight Howard had 25 points with 12 boards, Rashard Lewis scored 18 for Orlando (35-17) which has won nine of its last 11 games.
“I thought I was dreaming tonight,” Howard said.
Serbian sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic had 29 points, Darren Collison and David West added 27 apiece for New Orleans (27-25) which dropped to 1-4 since losing All-Star guard Chris Paul to left knee surgery for the next 4-6 weeks. “He was unbelievable,” Stojakovic said of Carter. “He made some really tough shots over two or three guys.”
The Hornets shot a sizzling 60% from the field en route to a 70-55 halftime advantage behind 16 points apiece by Stojakovic and Collison. The lead grew to 17 in the opening minute of the third quarter, but Carter scored 16 points, bringing the Magic to within 94-87 after three. The Hornets led 104-93 midway through the final frame before the explosive Carter struck again with an assortment of drives and jumpers.
The eight-time All-Star scored 11 points to spark an 18-3 run, including a pair of threes and a conventional three-point play, putting the Magic ahead 111-107 lead with three minutes remaining. After New Orleans pulled to within one, Carter drained a three and followed with a fall-away jumper, opening up a 116-110 cushion.
James Posey made two free throws to draw the Hornets within four. However, Carter and teammate Jason Williams each sank a pair from the stripe around a basket by Collison at the other end, making it 120-114 with 32 ticks to go.
Stojakovic’s fifth three of the night pulled the Hornets to within 120-117. But that’s as close as they would come. Lewis made three of four free throws in the final 24 seconds to seal the come-from-behind win.
“We needed a great, great performance to get a very close win and we got it,” Van Gundy concluded. “Vince did it all tonight.”
Elsewhere: LA Lakers 101, San Antonio Spurs 89
Spanish-star Pau Gasol had 21 points, with 19 rebounds, eight assists and five blocks, and the Lakers overcame the absence of injured Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum to beat the visiting Spurs.
“I wasn’t sharp with my shot,” said Gasol, who made 8-of-20 from the field. “But I was trying to be active by rebounding, blocking shots and getting my teammates involved,”.
Bryant sat out his second straight game with a sore left ankle, while Bynum was nursing a bruised right hip.
With two fifths of their starting lineup on the sidelines, the defending NBA Champions (40-13) received a strong collective team effort.
Ron Artest scored 18 points, Lamar Odom had 16 with 10 rebounds, while Jordan Farmar and Derek Fisher netted 13 apiece.
Argentine ace Manu Ginobili scored 21 points, Frenchman Tony Parker added 20, while Tim Duncan had 16 with 15 rebounds for San Antonio (29-21) which dropped to 2-1 on its season-high eight-game road trip.
Dallas Mavericks 127, Golden State Warriors 117
Jason Terry poured in a season-high 36 points, including the
go-ahead 3-pointer - his sixth of the game - with 5:35 remaining and the visiting Mavericks handed the Warriors their season-high ninth straight loss.
Josh Howard and fellow-reserve Drew Gooden netted 25 and 24 points, respectively for Dallas (32-19), which outscored Golden State 37-19 in the decisive final quarter to wipe out an early 14-point deficit. |
