When the public-address announced that an injured Vince Carter wouldn't play last night, the fans filled KeyArena with boos.

The sold-out crowd was disappointed at missing their only chance this season to watch one of the NBA's most popular players in person.

But there was plenty of cheering and applause during Seattle's 101-75 victory for its season-high sixth straight victory this season.

By the end of the game, fans were in stitches at Predrag Drobnjak's ballhandling imitation of Isiah Thomas. And the game was such a laugher that Toronto's Michael (Yogi) Stewart came off a milk carton for an appearance.

"We're playing hard," said Vin Baker, who scored 21 points on 10-for-15 shooting. "We don't mind who comes in the gym or if they're with their stars or without them. We feel like we can beat anybody right now."

Baker's bold words are backed up by the second-best win streak in the NBA after the Mavericks, who have won nine straight. The most impressive aspect of the stretch is that the Sonics have won by an average of more than 20 points. Coach Nate McMillan's only quibble during the streak had been rebounding, and last night the Sonics won that battle 49-43.

"This team is capable of doing some good things," said McMillan, whose team shot 51 percent. "If they commit to defending the ball, if they commit to working and playing together. And they've done that the past two weeks."

Last night, Seattle had to alter its defensive scheme from one geared at Carter, who averages 25.5 points. But the Sonics used the same plan on offense against previous road-weary opponents: turn the game into a sprint and a scramble.

"We have to go out and play the game and take care of business," Brent Barry said. "And tonight we did a professional job of getting on top of that team which was a little weary, and taking them out."

Without Carter, the Raptors became even more of a perimeter team, as Tracy Murray and Dell Curry received increased minutes. But Toronto missed its first 13 three-point attempts before making one late in the third quarter, which cut Seattle's lead to 73-51.

Carter strained his left shoulder Thursday in the third quarter of Toronto's 89-86 victory over the Lakers.

He sat on the end of the bench last night, wearing a gray double-breasted suit, with a beige shirt and matching tie. Carter was relegated to cheering and exhorting his teammates.

"In his grill," Carter yelled after Alvin Williams swished a jumper over Gary Payton to cut Seattle's lead to 28-24 early in the second quarter.

Payton looked toward Toronto's bench to note the trash-talker before smiling after realizing that it was the Raptors forward.

Carter, smiling, said: "You heard what I said."

But soon, Carter turned mute and looked glum, as Seattle used the strategy that has worked so effectively during its hot streak: smothering defense, which led to several fast-break opportunities.

"They did what they were supposed to do," said Toronto Coach Lenny Wilkens, who was also without center Hakeem Olajuwon (infected toe).

"They came out and jumped on us early." The most ominous sign for Toronto was that the Sonics flourished after Payton rested on the bench with 9:30 left in the second quarter with Seattle up 30-24.

Earl Watson, who has shown uncanny defense and floor leadership for a rookie, orchestrated Seattle's run.

"Vin has been playing his best ball of the season the last two weeks," McMillan said.

By the time Payton returned with 3:17 left in the second quarter, Seattle led 49-34. The Raptors ended the period with their largest half-time deficit this season, 57-36.

"We weren't worried about who was on the other end of the other team," said Payton, who scored his 16,000th career point in the first quarter, bringing laud applause from fans. "We are worried about what we can do for ourselves."

Over the past two weeks, the Sonics have benefited from a string of games against teams whose best players were injured: the Magic (Tracy McGrady), the Kings (Chris Webber) and the Clippers (Lamar Odom). And last Saturday against the Pistons, Jerry Stackhouse was ejected in the second quarter. But the Sonics have had their share of injuries, especially to the frontcourt. So they don't intend to qualify their hot streak to enter the new year.