The veteran Raptor swingman, in another performance that inspires appreciation of his still-formidable talents, rewarded his head coach with an 18-point performance yesterday that helped spearhead Toronto's emphatic 107-88 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Wilkens, never a stickler for a consistent playing rotation, felt vindicated for putting Curry on the court for 22 vital minutes after limiting the 38-year-old to just seven on Friday night in Boston.

"It's not just a feeling," Wilkens said after Curry's most productive game of the year. "It's who I see on the floor, what the matchups are. I try to pride myself on knowing the players on the other team; it doesn't mean I'm always right - I might lay an egg - but I felt the matchup with Dell was the one I wanted out there today and he made me look good."