Vince Carter awoke yesterday morning feeling much better than he did the night before when it hurt just to sneeze.

Carter's strained back, injured during Monday's 100-97 loss to Golden State, still could keep him out of tonight's game at Sacramento. The Nets watched film yesterday before going through a walk-through practice. Carter rested his back and may be a game-time decision based on how he feels today after more treatment.

"I was able to wake up and walk, that's good enough for me," Carter said at practice at the University of San Francisco before traveling to Sacramento. "Game-time decision. I'm not going to rush it. I won't know until I try to run, practice. Right now I'm trying to let the swelling come down, let it heal on its own first. (The medical staff) told me just relax."

Carter reported no pain in his back. That was an improvement from less than 24 hours earlier when he took himself out a couple of plays after injuring his back on a tip-in during the first half. After halftime, Carter attempted to play but lasted less than two minutes before calling it a night.