Vince Carter Sprains Left Ankle in His Return to New Jersey

Vince Carter was about to deliver one of those "don't-you-wish-I-was-still-here" games Friday night in New Jersey, when he fell to the floor clutching his left ankle midway in the second quarter.

Carter, traded by the Nets to the Orlando Magic this summer, had 16 points in his first 15 minutes before he left with a sprained ankle. X-rays were negative and he told reporters that "hopefully,'' he could play Sunday in Toronto.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, the eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds – the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic, Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (serving a 10-game NBA suspension), had 16 points for the second consecutive game.

His mother, who was there, described it to the Orlando Sentinel as a "mild sprain.'' It happened on a drive to the basket when he stepped awkwardly on the foot of New Jersey guard Devin Harris.

Coach Stan Van Gundy, in his post-game press conference, told reporters there was considerable swelling, but did not guess how long it would keep Carter on the sideline. After sitting on the bench for a brief time, Carter limped to the locker room and never returned.

"I was ready to sit back and enjoy one of those great shows because he was rolling,'' Van Gundy said. "It's too bad. We had to find another way to win.''

Carter had hit six of his eight shots. He opened the game against his former team with an emphatic dunk when he blew past Nets' guard Courtney Lee, who was sent from Orlando to New Jersey in the trade of Carter.

The Magic, with the deepest team in franchise history, had no problem dominating the Nets, even without Carter, their eight-time All-Star. The game just proved how good the Magic are.

Dwight Howard did as he pleased with 20 points and 22 rebounds – the 24th 20-20 game of his career. The Magic got a big game from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who came with Carter from New Jersey in the trade that cost the Magic Lee, Rafer Alston and Tony Battie.

Anderson, who is starting in place of Rashard Lewis (a 10-game NBA suspension) had 16 points for the second consecutive game.