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Carter scores 41; Nets survive Sixers

 
Published Dec. 3, 2006|Updated Dec. 5, 2006

Vince Carter scored a season-high 41 and Jason Kidd had 13 assists to lead the Nets to a 112-107 victory over the 76ers on Saturday night.

Kidd also had nine points and nine rebounds to just miss his 78th career triple double, which would have tied him for third overall with Wilt Chamberlain. Richard Jefferson added 24 points and Nenad Krstic had 20 as the Nets won their second straight after a six-game losing streak.

Allen Iverson scored 37 and rookie Rodney Carney added a career-high 20 in his first NBA start as Philadelphia lost its sixth straight road game. Chris Webber returned to the 76ers lineup after missing six games with a back problem and had 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Nets, who led by 11 entering the final quarter, didn't put the 76ers away until Carter hit four free throws in the final four seconds. Philadelphia got within 108-107 on a three-point play by Iverson with 4.3 seconds to go.

Raptors 103, Knicks 100

NEW YORK - T.J. Ford had 20 points and 10 assists and turned back the Knicks on a number of occasions down the stretch as the Raptors held on.

Chris Bosh had 26 points and 13 rebounds for Toronto, which won for the fourth time in five games. But it was the play of Ford down that stretch that allowed the Raptors to survive an inspired finish from Eddy Curry and improve to 2-8 on the road. Curry had 27 points, 11 in the final 4:49.

Quentin Richardson had 16 points and 16 rebounds for the Knicks, but scored only two points in the final three quarters and missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the final minute.

They opened a season-high six-game homestand by falling to 1-7 at Madison Square Garden.

LATE FRIDAY: Luke Ridnour shocked his teammates when he missed two free throws with 19 seconds left.

Moments later, Ridnour had another opportunity and this time stunned the Pacers.

Ridnour split two defenders and made a high-arching 6-footer over the outstretched arms of Danny Granger as time expired to give the SuperSonics a 105-103 win.

"He's got a knack for making those crazy shots," Seattle's Nick Collison said.

The play was supposed to be a pick-and-roll with Rashard Lewis, with Ridnour penetrating and shooting or passing out to Lewis or Ray Allen.

Instead, the Pacers switched their defense, leaving Ridnour to improvise and make a difficult shot over the 6-foot-9 Granger.

"I thought I had it," Granger said. "Off-foot, falling back, hand in his face; I give it to him. It was a tough shot."

Ridnour was hoping for another opportunity after missing two free throws that could have given Seattle a four-point lead. But the 80.5 percent free-throw shooter failed on both attempts and Jermaine O'Neal made a 17-footer with 6.3 seconds left to tie it at 103.

"I don't know how I missed those two but thank the Lord I got another chance," Ridnour said.

Ridnour scored 17, including Seattle's only 3-pointer with 43 seconds left for a 101-99 lead.

Newly inserted into the starting lineup, Collison responded with a career-high 21 points, helping Seattle snap a three-game home losing streak.

Collison replaced Johan Petro and was 8-of-11 from the floor and 5-for-5 at the line, and his follow dunk of Allen's missed drive with 1:59 left gave Seattle a 98-95 lead.

Randolph: I'll be back

PHILADELPHIA - Shavlik Randolph could tell immediately he broke his ankle after an awkward landing during a scrimmage. What he also knows is that he'll return with the 76ers earlier than expected this season, no matter what the doctors tell him.

"I'm trying to make it back by the All-Star break," Randolph said Saturday. "I think I can do anything. With God, all things are possible. The doctor says he doesn't want me walking on it for a while, but I feel like I can walk on it now."

Randolph, who had surgery Thursday after he fractured and dislocated his left ankle in practice, said he's wearing a splint on the ankle. He said it should come off Tuesday, and he hoped to start his rehabilitation next week.

He's been so bored already that he bought an Xbox 360.

HORNETS: Willis Reed, the vice president of basketball operations, said he plans to retire in June, the month he will turn 65. The Louisiana native said he plans to retire to the Rustin, La., house he shares with his wife, Gale.