Carter scores 16 in injury-marred return to Jersey

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer Oct 30, 11:35 pm EDT

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP)—While a sprained left ankle spoiled Vince Carter’s(notes) return to New Jersey, it did nothing to slow down Dwight Howard(notes) and the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic.

Carter scored 16 points before leaving the game against his former teammates in the second quarter, but Howard more than made up for his absence with 20 points, 22 rebounds and four blocks in a 95-85 victory Friday night.

“I heal like a young guy so I’ll be good tomorrow,” Carter said after sitting out the second half. “Hopefully, I’ll be back Sunday. We’re going to be smart about it. It’s a long season. I’m feeling better now that I am walking on it.”

Carter spent the second half in the trainers’ room and had his ankle wrapped. X-rays were negative.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Carter did not have a lot of swelling.

“We don’t have a timetable. Maybe we’ll have a better idea tomorrow,” Van Gundy said after the Magic won their second straight and handed the Nets their second loss in as many games.

What Van Gundy knows is that his team can tough it out, especially with Howard doing yeoman’s work in the middle.

“We had to grind it out,” said Howard, who had 12 points and 11 rebounds in the first quarter. “Vince started out the game real good, hitting a lot of shots. It was unfortunate he hurt his ankle, but we were able to get a good win.”

Former Net Ryan Anderson(notes), who was sent to Orlando in the deal with Carter, added 16 points, while Brandon Bass(notes) had all 13 of his points in the second half.

Courtney Lee(notes), who was traded to the Nets along with Rafer Alston(notes) and Tony Battie(notes) in the draft-day deal for Carter, had 18 points. All-Star guard Devin Harris(notes) added 16 points on 6-of-18 shooting, but most of his points came after the outcome was decided.

Lee shook his head when asked about playing against Howard.

“He is there distracting a lot of shots,” Lee said. “He caught a couple of my shots that I thought I threw pretty high and he went up and got him. I’ve played and practiced against him for a while and I forgot how athletic he is and how he can jump.”

The focus of the Nets’ home opener was Carter’s return and the 11-year veteran did not disappoint his followers after getting a standing ovation from many in the crowd during the introduction of the starting lineups.

The eight-time All-Star drove down the right side of the lane for a dunk on the opening possession and was 5 of 7 from the field in the first quarter for 12 points. He finished 6 of 8 from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.

“That’s how they needed him to play,” Harris said of his former teammate. “In the preseason games they’ve been trying to get him going to start with and he came out and hit some jump shots. We weren’t aggressive on the screen-and-rolls and he took advantage of it.”

His night ended with 3:05 left in the first half. Dribbling around the top of the key, Carter stepped on Harris’ foot and immediately fell to the court, clutching his ankle.

Harris was not sure whether Carter stepped on his foot or Lee’s but the replays showed it was Harris’.

Play was not stopped for another 10 seconds as the Nets got a fastbreak basket.

“At that point you want to help him up, but I figured I’d take the layup first and see if he was OK,” Harris said.

Carter needed about a minute before getting up and going to the bench. He stayed there for about a minute and went to the locker room for the rest of the game.

While the Nets were within six points at halftime, the Magic used a seven-point run to open a 57-44 lead early in the third quarter. Howard started the run with a dunk. Jameer Nelson(notes), who was limited to 3 minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, then made two free throws and a 3-pointer for the 13-point lead.

“We never got back from there,” Nets coach Lawrence Frank said.

New Jersey closed within 69-62 late in the third quarter before Howard tipped in a shot and Bass hit two jumpers.

NOTES: Howard missed his first six free throws in the first quarter and finished 2 of 9 in the quarter. He was 4 of 11 in the game. … Nets starting C Brook Lopez(notes) was in foul trouble all game and had 11 points. … New Jersey only had seven turnovers. … Orlando plays Sunday in Toronto, where Carter started his NBA career.

Updated Oct 30, 11:35 pm EDT
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32 Comments

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  1. tony s
    32. Posted by tony s Sat Oct 31 10:42pm EDT

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    That's funny, they had to grind it out. i really do not see the magic having to grind at all with the team they have. howard can take a game off & gorat would fill the position with the same results. they are that good & deep.
    but to change the subject, why does anyone think lebron would go to new york or new jersey, he would have to wait years before either one could build a contender. the cav's have more money (20 million, i'd stay) & the team is so close to a championship team. it's great to hope but don't get delusional.
    can't wait to see the magic play the celtic's & cav's.
  2. John P
    31. Posted by John P Sat Oct 31 5:10pm EDT

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    Brook Lopez did an interview after the game. His voice makes me question if he's infact mentally handicapped.
  3. John P
    30. Posted by John P Sat Oct 31 4:45pm EDT

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    "It's amazing how Dwight Howard carries this team. The second best player gets suspended and the third best player gets hurt and yet #12 still finds a way to get it done. Dwight Howard may not be the best player in the NBA but he is probably the most important to his team. "

    I have to disagree. Has stepped up big time a few times when he needed to fill Dwight's shoes. He's a better player than half of the starting centers in the NBA. Howard is a great player and is surely vital to his teams success. But not so much as Lebron is to Cleveland. I've said it before, Cleveland would be a 25win team w/o Lebron. I believe that right now, if Howard was struck w/ a season ending injury, Orlando Magic would still make the playoffs. Can even Cleveland fans say the same for Lebron?
  4. Reppin 4rm Big D to Jrzy
    29. Posted by Reppin 4rm Big D to Jrzy Sat Oct 31 4:30pm EDT

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    @20....yes the nets are re-building and firing scott was a mistake...but what team doesnt hit a slump...how many titles did the lakers anc c's win in the 90's....eventually you have to put together that stud roster w/ new pieces....there's no point into holdin on to disgruntled players for minimal success and high salary......in the east the nets have the best young core b/c i believe the thunder and blazers have better young guns than nj......all the nets are missin is that do-it-all type star to take this team over the top......harris is the scorer usin speed for easy buckets....lee is the hit from anywhere threat.....lopez is the stud big man....t-will, hayes, dooling, alston, and cd-r create a wonderful bench....the x-factro besides the aforementioned star is Yi.....if Yi can not only drain three's but hit the glass and get to the line and then add lebron/wade/etc to this mix.....the nets have a New Orleans Saints type transformation when Drew Brees came over that first yr
  5. Jason C
    28. Posted by Jason C Sat Oct 31 2:32pm EDT

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    It's amazing how Dwight Howard carries this team. The second best player gets suspended and the third best player gets hurt and yet #12 still finds a way to get it done. Dwight Howard may not be the best player in the NBA but he is probably the most important to his team.
  6. Banks
    27. Posted by Banks Sat Oct 31 1:44pm EDT

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    Carl, I don't know how smart you are with basketball, but I'm pretty sure that Vince Carter is eight times the player is than baby and way more of an asset to orlando than baby is to boston. You must be an idiot to post a comment like that.
  7. Take No Prisoners
    26. Posted by Take No Prisoners Sat Oct 31 12:01pm EDT

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    As a Knicks fan, I really wanted the Knicks to draft Brook. And I was booed off the stage, slammed and eventually thrown off a few boards for it. I knew Brook could potentially turn into a dominate big man and here he is. On schedule. The first season is usually a learning curve for a potential star and he's starting to put up the numbers expected of a star so far in his second season. Good luck to Brook and it's pretty obvious that the Nets are missing their star in Carter.

    So wether if the Knicks or Nets get Lebron, I'll be happy either way. But if the Nets get him, along with the guys you have and Brook. There may be no stopping the Nets from winning it all in the next year or two. We'll see.

    And we welcome the Nets to Brooklyn.
  8. Carl Childers
    25. Posted by Carl Childers Sat Oct 31 11:17am EDT

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    Hmmm. Carter goes down for a half, and the Magic have to "grind one out." But The Celtics lose Baby Davis since Day One, and blow through the Cavaliers and Bulls like they were Kleenex.

    If I were Stunned Van Gandhi, I'd be looking over my shoulder for leprechauns for another 80 games...
  9. Steven
    24. Posted by Steven Sat Oct 31 10:41am EDT

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    dc is right i am one crazy @#$%.who is going trick or treated tonight.
  10. harley dog
    23. Posted by harley dog Sat Oct 31 8:39am EDT

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    first 2 weeks of NBA does not matter too much you can dig a hole but so many teams can make the playoffs.the top 4 or 5 teams are kinda of a sure thing.But too me the only sure thing is that the magic are using vince carter as a tool to rest the real players on the team,there is no way they are thinking he can help lead this team alll the way.Magic may win it all but vince won't be there in he end he will be whining or hurt never seems to have a productive whole season but he is great when healthy and happy.magic are smarter than him sure they have plan. COME ON LAKERS.
  11. Sin City Calling
    22. Posted by Sin City Calling Sat Oct 31 5:38am EDT

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    bob f, could be that you just some how stumbled upon yourself a basketball section. imagine that.
  12. bob f
    21. Posted by bob f Sat Oct 31 3:41am EDT

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    every headline on here is about f--kin basketball. except one. i hate basketball. most boring game on the planet. kobe,lebron,all u pieces of crap who like basketball can take it in the brown!
  13. A-Bear
    20. Posted by A-Bear Sat Oct 31 3:03am EDT

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    Joey makes Magic fans like myself look bad. SHUT UP!
    Yes, we're a good team, and deep, and have a good - great chance to repeat as Eastern Conference Champs.
    Now quit being a dildo.
  14. Abraham F
    19. Posted by Abraham F Sat Oct 31 12:52am EDT

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    Remember when the Nets used to be an Eastern Conference title contender? With all those trades and Devin Harris looking like his team's Calvin Johnson, the Nets are the NBA's version of the Detroit Lions. It all started when Byron Scott got fired after taking the team to two finals, then Kenyon Martin got traded, and so on and so on. Forget the move to Brooklyn. Will Jay be coming to any games since the team really does indeed suck. Does any free agent wants to join a rebuilding team? That's a big question to answer between now and next season.
  15. DC
    18. Posted by DC Sat Oct 31 12:23am EDT

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    Joey, stop talking sh1t. Yes you made it to the finals.

    Only to get routed 4-1 by the oh-so-dominant Lakers.
    Suck on THAT.
  16. DC
    17. Posted by DC Sat Oct 31 12:18am EDT

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    Oh yeah, Steven's crazy all right. He thinks LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan.

    Check out comment #23 on the link below if you don't believe me.
    http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009103016&prov=ap
  17. Marc
    16. Posted by Marc Sat Oct 31 12:12am EDT

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    Hi,
    Fish Thursday 10-29 .Started out at the N 41 32.546 W 82 27.932 North of Huron.Water was dirty but was able to catch 4 Walleyes and the screen was covered with fish.If the water would have been cleaner I think we would have done better.Threre was other boats in the area and they were getting fish.Reefrunners back 120.Fished for 4 hrs then moved to N41 35.366 W82 16.291 for Perch and took our 2 man Ticket of 8" and over.All and all a great day
  18. Josey
    15. Posted by Josey Fri Oct 30 11:54pm EDT

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    Dwight Howard is beast
  19. Steven
    14. Posted by Steven Fri Oct 30 11:30pm EDT

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    they just won because of "jay z thinks he is gonna sign lebron but never will" sucking ass nets. they will be a very bad team this year just watch people.
  20. Math_Maestro
    13. Posted by Math_Maestro Fri Oct 30 7:30pm EDT

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    My Additional Note: I will nickname this game the "Middle East" NBA Game. How I created the title, is Florida was a "Confederate State" in the 1860's Civil War & New Jersey is among the thirteen original English Colonies, that later bacome a United State. In "Quicker Words" North-East Versus South-East, therefore, the previous sentence explains how I nicknamed this game, a forty-eight minute "Middle East" quarrel. (If it does not require overtime).
  21. Wildcard
    12. Posted by Wildcard Fri Oct 30 7:10pm EDT

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    Another game another beat down. 2-0
  22. Steven
    11. Posted by Steven Fri Oct 30 6:51pm EDT

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    you damn right i am a crazy @#$%.that's what happen when michelle trachtenberg decides to dump me than i come here and act like a crazy @#$% because this my house i run this mother@#$% house you @#$%s hear me.
  23. Joey
    10. Posted by Joey Fri Oct 30 5:09pm EDT

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    alright, steve, your crazy so @#$%, calm down! and all you magic haters, thats exactly what you are, haters!! you guys are jealous cause we made it to the finals and where were you guys at last year, or wait thats right, at home watching it enjoying your 32 wins while we had 59! so yall can suck on that!! magic are scoring over 120 on NJ tonight and beating them by more then 20! vince and dwight have double doubles! and the magic finish the season with 63 wins, and they make it to the finals..... AGAIN while NJ is sitting at home ruiting us on!

    Thank you very much! haha
  24. Bradley
    9. Posted by Bradley Fri Oct 30 4:43pm EDT

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    This Steve dude is a clown........not gonna lie this cracka made me laugh a little with his comments!
  25. Math_Maestro
    8. Posted by Math_Maestro Thu Oct 29 11:49pm EDT

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    New Jersey Nets' Command: BREAK ORLADO's "MAGIC WAND"!
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Top Performers

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 Orlando
D. Howard Dwight Howard
8-11,  20 Pts
22 Rebs, 1 Assists
 New Jersey
D. Harris Devin Harris
6-18,  16 Pts
5 Rebs, 7 Assists

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