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Knicks falter in D'Antoni's return to Phoenix
posted 12/16/08 12:10 am
ABC 7 News - Knicks falter in D'Antoni's return to Phoenix
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(Sports Network) - Devin Harris scored 20 points and Vince Carter joined him with that total, as New Jersey stormed back in the final period to down Toronto, 94-87, at the Air Canada Centre.

Carter scored just three points and didn't hit a shot in just over 29 minutes on December 12th against the Raptors, resulting in a 101-79 defeat. That game occurred in New Jersey, where the Nets are just 4-7 this season.

This game was on the road, where New Jersey improved to 8-4 this season. The Nets are four games over .500 on the road for just the seventh time in franchise history.

It is all thanks to a large fourth period, which included a 16-0 tidal wave that turned a nine-point deficit into a seven-point advantage.

Ryan Anderson tallied a team-best 21 points to go along with nine rebounds, and did plenty of damage during the game-changing stretch in the fourth stanza. Carter corralled 10 rebounds, as New Jersey held a dominating 54-38 edge on the backboards.

"It brings up my confidence, it brings up the team's confidence," Anderson said about his individual and the team's effort. "It was a big win for us. We needed to win."

The Nets put the brakes on a three-game losing streak in the process, making just 38.1 percent of its shots but getting plenty of second chances with 18 offensive boards.

Chris Bosh and Jason Kapono donated 17 points apiece and Jose Calderon collected 15 points to go along with eight assists. Jermaine O'Neal netted 14 points in defeat, the club's second consecutive setback.

"I am not concerned about finishing games," said Toronto head coach Jay Triano. "I am concerned about finishing possessions."

The fourth quarter was the difference, as New Jersey reeled off 16 straight points to come within two early in the stanza. Harris tallied the first nine points with his free throws tying the game at 72. Carter's three-point play and a pair of Harris free throws pushed the lead to 79-72.

Anderson went on his own 7-0 spurt moments later with his two free throws handing the Raptors an 88-74 edge. Overall, New Jersey scored 25 of the first 29 points in the period.

Calderon and Kapono buried consecutive threes to draw the Raptors within, 88-80, and Bosh's trey with just under one minute to go made the score, 91-86.

Calderon had a clean look to make it a one-possession game on Toronto's next possession, but he missed off the back rim and New Jersey made its free throws down the stretch to hold on.

The game was tied at 46-46 at the half, but Toronto surged ahead in the third to take a 70-63 advantage.

Game Notes

New Jersey has won two of three games between the two teams this season...Toronto shot 40 percent from the floor, and made only 9-of-21 from beyond the arc.



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