Carter, now 32 years of age, scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half as the Orlando Magic beat the Raptors 104-96. The ex- Raptors and New Jersey Nets star overcame a wretched first half that saw him score just six points on 2-for-11 shooting.

Carter's torrid second half allowed the Magic (11-3) to hand the Raptors (6-8) just their second home loss of the season. Orlando is responsible for both of Toronto's home losses, this one coming in front of an ACC crowd of 17,233.

Forward Chris Bosh led the Raptors with 22 points while Jos? Calder?n added 16, Amir Johnson 14 and former Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu 12. Andrea Bargnani scored 11 points.

After the game, Carter said he doesn't know why he's still portrayed as the bad guy in Toronto. But he should know. He left the city with a bad taste in its mouth after saying he would not put the extra effort in to dunk the ball. It was at the time he had expressed interest in going to another team. He quit on the team, some feel, and the fans haven't forgotten it.

"I don't know why they are booing me to be honest," Carter said.

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Carter played inspired Basketball in the second half.

"I thought (Carter) played real good late," Van Gundy said. "He was driving the ball to the basket, he was trying to get to the free-throw line."

It was the second straight solid game for Carter, who scored 26 points in the Magic's 83-78 win over Orlando on Friday.

"Both games on the road we put the ball in his hands late and I think he's making pretty solid plays," Van Gundy said.

The Raptors kept things close until the fourth quarter, when the Magic opened with a 14-4 run to take a 10-point lead.

"I thought they did a pretty good job throughout the whole game," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said. "Their defence is one of the best that is why they are 11-3."

Triano credited the Magic with disrupting the Raptors' dangerous offence.