Houston at Sacramento (10 p.m. EST). The Kings, winners of their last six games, host Yao Ming and the Rockets.

STARS

Wednesday

_Vince Carter, Raptors, scored a season-high 43 points, including a jumper with 1.2 seconds left in overtime to give Toronto a 99-97 win over Atlanta.

_Stephon Marbury, Suns, had 18 points and 12 assists to help Phoenix rout Dallas 121-90.

_Paul Pierce, Celtics, scored 30 points in Boston's 94-92 win over Orlando.

_Manu Ginobili, Spurs, had 17 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in San Antonio's 109-98 win over Chicago.

_Dikembe Mutombo, Knicks, had 18 points and 17 rebounds in New York's 97-92 victory over Minnesota.

_Baron Davis, Hornets, had 26 points and eight assists, leading New Orleans over Cleveland 82-72.

COOL RECEPTION

Detroit coach Larry Brown was booed loudly by 76ers fans Wednesday night in his first game back in Philadelphia _ a 90-86 loss _ since leaving to coach the Pistons last spring. Brown spent six often-turbulent seasons in Philadelphia, taking the Sixers to the playoffs five straight years. The fans' jeers were offset by the warm reception Brown received from his former players. Allen Iverson hugged his former coach during team introductions, as did Eric Snow and Derrick Coleman.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Atlanta's Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 30 points and 13 rebounds in the Hawks' 99-97 overtime loss to Toronto on Wednesday night. ... Minnesota's Kevin Garnett had 25 points and 14 rebounds in a 97-92 loss to New York.

LEAN ON ME

Toronto's Vince Carter has led the Raptors in scoring in 13 of 14 games this season. Carter scored a season-high 43 points in Toronto's 99-97 overtime win over Atlanta on Wednesday night.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Spurs' Tim Duncan had his 11th double-double of the season and 356th of his career Wednesday night, scoring 16 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in San Antonio's 109-98 victory over the Bulls on Wednesday night.

SPEAKING

``No matter what play we ran, he made the shot. Every team that wins, wins because of their stars.'' _ Toronto coach Kevin O'Neill, on Vince Carter. Carter scored 43 points in the Raptors' 99-97 overtime win over Atlanta.