Even without Vince Carter, the Raptors simply outclass the shell-shocked Chicago Bulls.

Based on that unalterable fact, the Raptors last night extended their winning streak to a half-dozen games and now are only a half-game removed from a potential playoff berth.

The Raptors' 117-104 victory versus the Bulls before a sellout crowd of 19,800 at the Air Canada Centre was fairly emphatic, save for a slow start and a predictable lapse of concentration in the fourth quarter.