Toronto ? Vince Carter returned to the Toronto Raptors’ lineup Wednesday night after missing 10 games with a strained tendon in his left knee. He scored 16 points as the Raptors lost 87-81.

He finished 7-for-14 from the field in 24 minutes for the Raptors, who have lost six straight.

Carter was expected to miss at least another week, but he was cleared to play last weekend. He didn’t start against the New York Knicks on Wednesday night, but he entered the game with 8:05 left in the first quarter. He missed his first shot, an 18-foot jumper.

“It’s hard for me to get a rhythm, I admit that,” Carter said. “I’m ready to play. They just felt they should watch my minutes tonight.”

The same injury forced Carter to miss five games two seasons ago and 22 games at the end of last season. He played his final game March 19, then had surgery the following week.

The Raptors went 3-7 without Carter.

Turkoglu injures forearm

Minneapolis ” Kings forward Hedo Turkoglu left Sacramento’s game at Minnesota and was taken to a hospital for X-rays after injuring his forearm in the second quarter Wednesday night.

Turkoglu landed hard on his right arm after a collision in the lane with Minnesota forward Joe Smith with 10:42 to play in the second quarter. Turkoglu was called for charging on the play.

Turkoglu lay face down on the court for several minutes before being helped to his feet. He walked off the court holding his right forearm gingerly against his chest.

Ratliff returns to Hawks

New Orleans ” Center Theo Ratliff was back in the Atlanta Hawks starting lineup against the New Orleans Hornets on Tuesday night after missing the previous game with the flu.

The 6-foot-10, 225-pound Ratliff averaged 8.5 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 blocks during Atlanta’s first 13 games.

Warriors sign Boykins

Oakland, Calif. ” Golden State signed guard Earl Boykins before the Warriors’ game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night.

Boykins has appeared in 126 games and averaged 4.3 points and 2.0 assists during his four-year NBA career with New Jersey, Cleveland, Orlando and the Los Angeles Clippers. Boykins took the roster spot vacated when guard A.J. Guyton was waived Tuesday.

Suns activate forward

Phoenix ” The Phoenix Suns activated forward Alton Ford from the injured list Wednesday before their game against the New Jersey Nets.

Ford, who missed the Suns’ first 12 games, was in uniform Wednesday night. Ford averaged 3.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 53 games with the Suns last season, his first in the NBA.