It All Falls Raptors’ Way as They Score 48 Points in First Quarter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rewrite the Raptors’ record book. Toronto had one of those games Saturday night in a 123-106 victory over the New Jersey Nets.

The Raptors set team records by making 19 of 23 shots and scoring 48 points in building a 31-point first-quarter lead.

New Jersey’s loss included a humorous ending as Net reserve center Yinka Dare finally got an assist after 769 minutes over two-plus seasons, setting up a late three-point shot by Lloyd Daniels.

The 48 points came within two of matching the NBA record for points in an opening quarter, shared by five teams. Toronto also set a club standard by shooting 82.6% in the period and the marksmanship carried into the second quarter when the lead ballooned to 75-33 with 3:15 left in the first half.

Damon Stoudamire and Walt Williams had 28 points to lead the Raptors, who won for only the second time in 15 road games this season, both against New Jersey.

Kendall Gill had 30 and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who became only the second team to be swept by Toronto in a season series.

Toronto made five of seven three-point shots in the first quarter, which ended when Doug Christie made two free throws with 1.4 seconds left for a 45-17 lead and then picked up a careless inbounds pass by Gill and swished a three-point shot at the buzzer.