Carter Looks Like Old Self in Victory

Vince Carter believes he can regain his status among the NBA’s elite under new Coach Kevin O’Neill.

Carter scored 25 of his 39 points in the second half as the Toronto Raptors rallied for a 90-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets in the season opener for both teams Wednesday night at Toronto.

Carter, who played only 43 games last season because of injuries, almost single-handedly gave O’Neill his first victory.

“I’ve been working my butt off to get back to this level. I feel good, I feel healthy and I feel comfortable,” said Carter, who hasn’t played a full season in three years because of knee injuries.

Kenyon Martin had 26 points and 11 rebounds for the Eastern Conference champion Nets. Jason Kidd had 11 points on four-of-18 shooting and missed a three-point shot that could have tied it at the buzzer.

Denver 80, San Antonio 72 -- Carmelo Anthony had 12 points and seven rebounds in his NBA debut with the Nuggets at Denver.

Denver shot 29% from the field, compared with 27% for the Spurs.

Utah 99, Portland 92 -- Carlos Arroyo had 18 points and 13 assists in his second career start, and Sasha Pavlovic scored 16 points in his NBA debut as the Jazz began rebuilding by rallying past the Trail Blazers at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz, playing a season opener without John Stockton and Karl Malone in the starting lineup for the first time since 1986, trailed by 13 in the third quarter.

Dallas 95, Golden State 87 -- Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 15 rebounds and the Mavericks spoiled Golden State’s season opener at Oakland by beating the Warriors for the 18th consecutive time. Antoine Walker added 20 points and 14 rebounds for Dallas, which hasn’t lost to the Warriors since 1999.

Orlando 85, New York 83 -- Tracy McGrady scored half of his 26 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to rally the Magic at New York.

Orlando forced overtime with a 10-0 run over the final 3:55 of regulation. The Magic made it a 15-point spurt by scoring the first five points of the extra session.

Minnesota 95, Milwaukee 89 -- Kevin Garnett had 25 points and 21 rebounds as the Timberwolves won at Minneapolis.

Newcomers Sam Cassell (18 points), Latrell Sprewell (15 points) and Michael Olowokandi (11 points, nine rebounds) helped out Garnett.

The crowd of 17,784 appreciated the new faces, including former Laker Mark Madsen, who took off two feet inside the free-throw line and threw down a dunk in the second quarter to give the Timberwolves their biggest lead, 54-37. Madsen finished with nine points.

Washington 99, Chicago 74 -- Gilbert Arenas was a winner in his Washington debut, scoring 18 points and adding six assists at Chicago.

The loss spoiled the homecoming of Scottie Pippen, who is back in a Bulls’ uniform for the first time since winning the 1998 NBA title.

New Orleans 88, Atlanta 83 -- Darrell Armstrong scored 18 points and made an assortment of crucial plays in his Hornet debut at New Orleans.

Boston 98, Miami 75 -- Paul Pierce scored 23 points and Boston made up for the absence of recently traded Antoine Walker by placing six scorers in double figures at Boston.

Indiana 89, Detroit 87 -- In the season opener for both clubs, Jermaine O’Neal had 22 points and 15 rebounds at Detroit, helping Coach Rick Carlisle beat the team that fired him.

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New Orleans Hornet center Jamaal Magloire signed a three-year contract extension and the Hornets also signed free-agent guard Steve Smith and released forward Kirk Haston.