NBA REPORTS / 76ers Beat Raptors As Iverson Drops 44

Allen Iverson wasn't going to let Vince Carter show him up.

Iverson, playing with an injured big toe, scored 44 points - 30 in the

final 19 minutes - as the host Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors,

106-93, last night in a preview of a potential first-round series in the

Eastern Conference playoffs.

"When you have that type of quality player come in, you want to step it

up," Iverson said. "When you add to that he's coming into my house, I want to

play good in front of my fans. It's my house." Carter overcame a tough first

half to score 26 points. He scored almost all of his points on jumpers and was

held without a dunk for the second straight game.

Tyrone Hill added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the 76ers and Eric Snow had

11 points and 14 assists. Tracy McGrady added 20 for Toronto, which lost its

second straight game after winning 11 of 12.

It was the fourth straight victory for the 76ers, who pulled into a tie

with Toronto for the fourth spot in the conference at 39-28. Iverson will have

X-rays on his injured left toe today.

Hornets 119, Nets 103: Eddie Jones scored 26 points, and Derrick Coleman

and David Wesley added 22 each as host Charlotte shot a season-best 56 percent.

Anthony Mason contributed 17 points as the Hornets recorded their highest

point and assist (37) totals of the season and ended a three-game slide.

Stephon Marbury led the Nets with 23 points.

Pistons 104, Trail Blazers 95: Grant Hill took over the fourth quarter,

scoring 14 of his 24 points in the period for visiting Detroit. Jerry

Stackhouse added 23 points and Terry Mills had 14 of his 16 in the second half

on 4 of 5 three-pointers for the Pistons, who have won three straight road

games after losing their previous 11. Rasheed Wallace and Steve Smith each

scored 20 for the Blazers.

Suns 114, Kings 93: Jason Kidd injured his left ankle with .2 seconds left

in the first half. Suns officials were uncertain of the extent of the injury,

and said Kidd was taken for an MRI. Cliff Robinson scored 26 points for host

Phoenix.

Spurs 103, Clippers 78: Tim Duncan scored 30 points in his best game since

returning from an abdominal injury. Samaki Walker came off the bench to tie his

season high with 18 points for host San Antonio. Spurs forward Sean Elliott

scored six points in 19 minutes.

Magic 103, Hawks 90: Darrell Armstrong had 27 points and 10 assists and

host Orlando maintained its hold on the eighth playoff position.

Timberwolves 109, Celtics 106: Anthony Peeler's three-point basket with

two-tenths of a second left and Kevin Garnett's career-high 40 points lifted

visiting Minnesota.