Nets Get Huge Victory Against Raptors

Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 with No comments
By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 10th, 2014

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap

Final Score: Raptors 97 Nets 101

The Brooklyn Nets despite being banged up were able to maybe what will end up being one of their most important wins of the season on Monday night against the Toronto Raptors. The win ties the season series at (2-2), and moves the Nets to (32-30) on the season, which is now just three games behind the Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Player of the Game: Deron Williams

Nets Point Guard Deron Williams helped lead them to a victory with a solid game. Williams finished with 18 points on six for 13 shooting, while going a nice four for seven from three-point range, and he dished out five assists. In the second half Williams really got it going scoring 12 of his 18 points, as he led the Nets in second half scoring. In March so far Williams has been very efficient shooting the ball, as he is shooting 47% from the field, and 40% from behind the arc.

Positives:

Shaun Livingston was right there with Williams in scoring for the Nets, also scoring 18 points on seven for 10 shooting, with three rebounds and three assists. Livingston had one steal in that game that came at a perfect time with under 30 seconds left to help the Nets hold on to the win. Joe Johnson also did a very good job scoring in the starting lineup, as he pitched in with 14 points on six for 13 shooting, with four assists and four rebounds.

Not too many people expected Paul Pierce to be playing on Monday after he left Sunday’s game early with a shoulder injury, but for the Nets it was a huge boost having him in the lineup with Kevin Garnett and Andrei Kirilenko both out. Pierce finished with 15 points on three for eight shooting, as all three baskets were three-pointers, one of which was a huge shot breaking a 94 all tie with a 1:14 left in the game.
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The Nets defense did a very good job holding the Raptors to under 100 points without two of their better defensive players in Garnett and Kirilenko, and did an especially good job against DeMar DeRozan and Jonas Valanciunas. DeRozan was held to just 14 points on a tough shooting night going three for nine from the field, and Valanciunas played even worse scoring just six points in 22 minutes.

Filling in yet again in the starting lineup for the injured Garnett was Mason Plumlee, but unlike most of the other games he has started, Head Coach Jason Kidd actually gave Plumlee some extended minutes, and he did well. Plumlee finished with a team-high eight rebounds and chipped in with six points on three for seven shooting.

Next up will be yet another tough game for the Nets as they head to South Beach to play the defending champs and LeBron James on Wednesday night.