TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors try to capitalize on a
surprising season opener and continue their success at home
against the Washington Wizards on Friday when the teams meet at
the Air Canada Centre.
The Raptors pulled off the biggest upset in the opening week of
the season, rallying for a 90-87 victory over the two-time
defending Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets on
Wednesday.
Vince Carter scored 25 of his 39 points in the second half,
vanquishing any doubts about whether he has recovered from the
injuries that limited him to just 43 games last season.
Carter made 15-of-20 shots from the floor and 9-of-10 from the
line as Toronto rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit.
Antonio Davis collected 12 points and 14 rebounds and rookie
Chris Bosh scored 11 points in his NBA debut for the Raptors,
who shot just 43 percent from the floor but made 20-of-25 free
throws.
Toronto will try to stay unbeaten against Washington, which has
just four wins in 15 visits to the Air Canada Centre. The
teams split two meetings here last season.
The Wizards posted one of the most lopsided wins of the NBA's
opening week, rolling to a 99-74 rout of the Chicago Bulls on
the road Wednesday.
Larry Hughes scored 20 points and free agent signee Gilbert
Arenas had 18 and six assists for Washington, which had six
players in double figures in its first game of the
post-Michael Jordan era.
Etan Thomas collected 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Wizards
played without star guard Jerry Stackhouse, who is on the
injured list following knee surgery.
Toronto won three of four meetings with Washington last season
and has a 17-13 edge in the all-time series.