Raptors assistant coach Stan Albeck suffered a stroke in the team's locker room prior to Sunday's game against the Heat and was rushed to an area hospital.

Albeck, 70, turned red and couldn't talk as the Raptors were about to start a pre-game meeting. He was taken to St. Michael's hospital, where he is being evaluated. He never lost consciousness as he was taken out of the Air Canada Centre on a stretcher and was hooked up to oxygen.

"He sat over at Eric Montross' locker and he just didn't look well," said Raptors star Vince Carter. "He was turning red. He wasn't talking. He was just sitting there. Some of the guys were making sure he was OK, and half the guys were running in either direction looking for the doctor.

"It was a tough situation when you know you have a game to play, but you want to be around to give your support."

Albeck has been in basketball for more than 40 years as a coach, assistant and scout. He coached four NBA teams from 1979-1986. He is in his second season as Lenny Wilkens' top assistant.

"It was hard to focus out there," Toronto's Morris Peterson said of playing Sunday's game. "We're praying for Stan. He is a big part of this team. He's always smiling and joking around. I look forward to coming to practice because you know he's going to say something funny."

? James solid in debut: One of the best players on the floor Sunday may have been the one who had never played in an NBA game before.

Rookie Mike James made his Heat debut with 5:15 to play and finished tied for team-high with three assists, had five points, and helped Miami cut 12 points off the Raptors' 19-point lead.

"I think Mike can help us," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I'll give him some time the next couple of weeks."

Anything should help this team that fell to 5-20, even a player who Riley cited all summer as an example of his youth movement, then cut six days before the season opener and re-signed six days ago.

In between, James was the CBA's second-leading scorer with 23.3 points per game.

"I'm ready to play," said James, who originally was signed last summer as a free agent. "The jitters and all that left me in the pre-season."

James took the ball to the basket, drawing a foul on his first possession, had an assist on his second, and two possessions later made a three-pointer. He ended the game with two more nice passes. All three of his assists were to Kendall Gill.

"I didn't come back to sit on the bench, but I have to pay my dues," James said. "I know I can play on this level."

? Raptors Riley's favorite: Riley believes the Raptors are the best team in the Eastern Conference.

"They'll have their ups and downs like a lot of teams, but when they're healthy and right and motivated, and when it counts, they'll be the team to beat in the conference," Riley said. "It's a team built for the playoffs."

The Raptors played Sunday without reserves Chris Childs (ankle) and Hakeem Olajuwon (swollen big toe). Olajuwon spent the afternoon at the hospital having his toe re-evaluated.