NEW YORK (Ticker) -- One day after scoring an NBA season-high 51 points in his first national appearance on NBC, Toronto Raptors forward Vince Carter was named Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday.

Carter's 51 points was a career high and a franchise record for the Raptors, who held on to edge the Phoenix Suns, 103-102.

NBC adjusted its schedule to give Carter additional exposure and the flashy second-year player out of North Carolina dazzled the crowd at the Air Canada Centre. He was 17-of-32 from the field, 4-of-8 from 3-point range and 13-of-13 from the line.

In three games last week, Carter averaged 35.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.3 steals. He had 33 points and tied a career-high with nine rebounds in a 99-88 victory over the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

Carter is fifth in the NBA in the scoring this season, averaging 25.3 points per game. His previous career high was 47 points in a 115-110 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on January 14.

Among the others considered for the award were Detroit's Grant Hill, Miami's Alonzo Mourning, Minnesota's Kevin Garnett, New York's Patrick Ewing and Seattle's Gary Payton.

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