TORONTO (Ticker) -- Vince Carter seems intent on putting his troubles from the last couple of seasons behind him.
Carter poured in 13 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter to lift the Toronto Raptors to an 90-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets in the season opener for both teams.
After missing 39 games last season and 61 over the last two years, Carter helped keep the Raptors in the game in the first half before carrying them over the final quarter to give coach Kevin O'Neill a victory in his debut.
"I'm excited to be back healthy and able to contribute to this team just because of what's gone on the past year and a half," Carter said. "We just wanted to be close in the fourth quarter and try to take over."
Carter nailed a fadeaway jumper with 50 seconds left to give Toronto the lead for good, 84-83. After New Jersey's Kenyon Martin missed a difficult runner, Carter struck again with a jumper for a three-point cushion with 14 seconds remaining.
"Since I have gotten here, I've said that the least of my worries is Vince," O'Neill said. "The bottom line is that when he's healthy, he's pretty hard to deal with."
Questionable with a sprained thumb, Martin made 1-of-2 free throws before Toronto's Alvin Williams made a pair, pushing the lead to four points.
Martin drilled a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds to go to cut the deficit to 88-87. Alvin Williams responded with a pair of foul shots, and Jason Kidd's desperation 3-pointer was an airball at the buzzer.
Martin collected 26 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which lost a season opener for the first time in three years.
Carter made 15-of-30 shots, including 6-of-9 in the fourth quarter. The Nets tried Kerry Kittles and Richard Jefferson on him, but neither was able to contain the four-time All-Star.
"I just wanted to make things happen, whether it's putting the ball in the hole or finding someone open," Carter said.
"He is healthy and raring to go, but again he scored 39 points, mostly in the fourth quarter," Jefferson said. "You can't let one guy beat us."
New Jersey took its largest lead at 57-44 on Kittles' dunk with 6:44 left in the third quarter. The Nets still held a 61-50 advantage with four minutes left before being held without a basket for the next five minutes.
Carter scored eight points in a 14-6 run to close the third period before continuing his onslaught in the fourth. He nailed a pair of fadeaways over Jefferson for a 71-69 advantage with 10 minutes to go.
"He's back and with a vengeance and we are going to keep riding it," Raptors forward Jerome Williams said.
The Nets were plagued by poor shooting performances by Kidd and Jefferson. Kidd made 4-of-18 shots for 11 points and 10 assists while Jefferson was 3-of-13 for 10 points.
"We missed shots," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "Jason missed his and Richard missed some. We just didn't hit them."
Toronto also outmuscled New Jersey to the tune of 45-40 on the glass. Antonio Davis and Jerome Williams each grabbed 14 boards and Carter added five.
The Raptors also received a boost from rookie Chris Bosh, the No. 4 selection in the draft. Bosh came off the bench for 11 points and four rebounds, nailed a go-ahead baseline jumper just under two minutes remaining and defended Martin.
"When the coach shows his confidence in me, I feel confident myself and I was able to grab some rebounds and knock down some open shots," Bosh said.
Alonzo Mourning made his debut with New Jersey and played 17 minutes, finishing with six points and four rebounds.
