PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Vince Carter returned from a one-game absence and pumped in 28 points, helping the Toronto Raptors extend the Portland Trail Blazers' season-high losing streak to six games, 95-84, Wednesday night.
Carter, who missed the Raptors' 26-point loss to Seattle on Saturday because of a shoulder injury suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers one day earlier, was 11-of-22 from the field and
stopped a fourth-quarter rally by Portland with a pair of clutch buckets.
The Raptors led, 75-60, early in the period, but the Trail Blazers went on a 7-0 run that was capped by a reverse layup by Scottie Pippen with 8:56 to go.
Carter then scored on a spinning layup and 3-pointer that gave Toronto an 80-67 lead with 7:54 left. Portland never got within single digits thereafter.
Morris Peterson scored 16 points and Dell Curry added 14 for the Raptors, who had five players in double figures.
Rasheed Wallace led Portland with 22 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 8-of-26. Pippen had 17 and seven assists in his second game since missing the previous 10 with a bruised right knee.
The Blazers had not lost six straight since Dec. 15-26, 1995. They are three defeats shy of their all-time mark, set during the 1990-91 season.
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