Raptors top Kings for ninth straight home win, 108-93
Carter plays perhaps final game in T.O.
TORONTO — With 11.6 seconds left, Vince Carter picked up his fifth foul and was subbed out of the game to a loud and long standing ovation.
Ending what was likely Carter’s final appearance on the Air Canada Centre court, it was the highlight of an otherwise humdrum 108-93 National Basketball Association win for the Toronto Raptors over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
“I hope not,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said, on the possibility that Carter played his last game here. “He’s a guy I’ve always looked up to, respected, someone that has earned the right to have his jersey retired in the Raptors’ arena. What can you say? Tip the hat to the guy that pretty much changed the game of basketball for a whole country.”
DeMar DeRozan scored 21 points, and Jonas Valanciunas had 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds to lead the Raptors to their ninth straight home victory.
Six Raptors scored in double figures, as Lowry finished with 16, Norm Powell had 14, OG Anunoby had 11, and C.J. Miles chipped in with 10.
The Raptors (20-8) improved their NBA-best record at the Air Canada Centre to 11-1.
Carter had just four points in 25 minutes, but showed a couple of flashes of vintage Vince, such as first-half block (he would finish with three) on Valanciunas. The 40-year-old, who was a fivetime all-star in his six-and-a-bit seasons in Toronto, signed a oneyear, $8-million US deal with the Kings last off-season, for his 20th NBA season.
Toronto was reportedly interested in him last summer, and Carter, who inspired a generation of young Canadian players in his days as a superstar in Toronto, sounded Sunday like he would welcome a return engagement.
A far cry from the days he was serenaded by a chorus of boos in Toronto, the crowd cheered Carter during team introductions, and each time he checked in.
“Nothing changes. I still love being here, whether it’s 10, 12 years ago, or today,” he said. “There’s nothing like it. I’ve been on two different sides of it ... but, it’s still a place that’s near and dear to me. Every time I walk in here, 10, 12 years ago or 10, 12 minutes ago, still see the same people, still greet the same people, see the old faces.”
Carter said he’s still waffling on retirement.
“You catch me on the right day, I’ll probably tell you it’s over this year, you catch me on another day, I can probably tell you in a couple of years. I just enjoy playing, I enjoy being around the guys in this atmosphere. It’s tough to say. You’re asking today, so I can tell you, I have one more in me.”
The Raptors are in Charlotte on Wednesday, and Philadelphia on Thursday before heading home to host the 76ers on Dec. 23.