Carter leads Raptors past Knicks in OT

Carter scored 10 of Toronto's 12 points in overtime to help the Raptors end a four-game losing skid with a 105-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.

Carter, in foul trouble in the first half, had just two points through the first three quarters but finished with 18 points and eight assists.

``I played better in the second half and extra period to make up for that first half,'' he said.

Donyell Marshall added 19 rebounds and 15 points, and Jalen Rose had 21 points for the Raptors, who had six players in double figures.

``Vince is doing a good job of getting the other guys into the game, and then taking over in the fourth quarter,'' Marshall said. ``Even though Vince got into foul trouble, we were able to step up and hold the game close until he was able to get back.''

Toronto improved to 6-4 since its big trade with Chicago.

New York's Allan Houston forced overtime on a 3-pointer with 4.4 seconds left, but he missed two jumpers and turned the ball over in the final 1:30 of overtime.

``It's hard to take positives in a situation like this when you play hard and just don't get it done,'' Houston said.

Houston had 33 points for the Knicks, who have lost seven straight road games and eight of 10 overall. It was their first game since a team meeting following their lopsided loss to Golden State on Tuesday.

``This really hurts because it went down to the wire,'' New York's Antonio McDyess said. ``We gave everything we had. It's kind of tough to swallow.''

McDyess didn't play in overtime, finishing with eight points and eight rebounds in 31 minutes.

``I had three things wrong with me. I couldn't catch my second wind, my knee was stiff and I jammed my finger,'' he said. ``I was real tired.''

Houston's jumper over Alvin Williams gave New York a two-point lead with 2:05 left in overtime, and Williams followed with a jumper to tie it.

Houston, guarded by Rose, missed a jumper, and Carter made a jumper over Keith Van Horn to give Toronto the lead for good with 1:08 left. Houston turned the ball over with 34 seconds remaining, and Carter made two free throws with 15.6 seconds left to give Toronto a 103-99 lead.

After Houston missed a 3-pointer, Carter made two free throws with just under a second remaining.

Carter made two free throws with 15.5 seconds left before Houston made his tying 3-pointer off an inbounds pass as Toronto's Morris Peterson didn't getaround Van Horn's screen to defend Houston.

Notes:
Knicks general manager Scott Layden said he has ``complete faith'' in coach Don Chaney despite their disappointing record. ``I'm unflappable when it comes to that. I think the coach is doing everything he can to get us in the right direction,'' Layden said. ``Our feelings about him haven't changed at all.'' Layden said Tuesday's blowout loss to Golden State was unacceptable, but said they've had a couple of good practices this week. He says they're going into a critical juncture in the schedule. ``We have the team intact now,'' he said. ... If the Knicks are looking to trade Thomas, Toronto coach Kevin O'Neill will take him. ``Kurt Thomas is my man. I'd love to have Kurt,'' O'Neill said. ``He's psycho. He's nuts. He's all the things that are good foryour team.''