Raptors rip Cavs in final tune-up

Cleveland will open the regular season at home Wednesday night.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO -- Vince Carter scored 20 points and the Toronto Raptors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 100-92 Friday night in the final preseason game for both teams.
Robert Traylor had 30 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers (6-2), who host Indiana on Wednesday night in their season opener.
Donyell Marshall added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Raptors (2-5).
Traylor, whose career high in the regular season is 20 points, dominated the undersized Raptors inside. Cleveland outscored Toronto 42-24 in the paint.
The Raptors played their starters for most of the game, while the Cavaliers rested theirs. LeBron James had six points in just 21 minutes.
Cavs got to within four
Eric Snow's two free throws cut Toronto's lead to four late in the fourth quarter, but Rafer Alston made two free throws and Jalen Rose's jumper gave Toronto a 98-90 lead with 1:24 remaining.
Carter missed Toronto's two previous preseason games to deal with a lawsuit filed by a former agent. Carter is expected to return to Columbia, S.C., for the trial on Monday, but will be back for Toronto's season opener at home against Houston on Wednesday night.
Wagner's status
The Cavaliers declined their $3.4 million contract option for 2005-06 on guard Dajuan Wagner, making him a free agent after this season.
Wagner's brief NBA career has been slowed by injuries, and by not picking up the option, the Cavaliers will have more payroll flexibility and money to spend in free agency. The move also makes Wagner more tradable.
If Wagner has a breakout season in 2004-05, the team could still try to re-sign him.
The sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft, Wagner has shown flashes of being a productive player. But injuries and inconsistency have plagued his development.
Wagner averaged 13.4 points in 47 games as a rookie and 6.5 last season in 44 games. He missed 33 games after undergoing knee surgery.
Wagner was off to a nice start during the exhibition season but sustained a sprained ankle and may begin the season on the injured list.
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