The Nets and Raptors, in Game 5 of their opening round Eastern Conference playoff series, played one of the craziest games in recent postseason history tonight at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The Raptors won 115-113 to take a 3-2 lead as the series heads back to Brooklyn for Game 6 on Friday night.
For such an insane game that was tough, confusing, crazy and, ultimately, depressed to watch, I figured I would change up my normal recap format. We’re going numbered list tonight:
1. The Nets and Raptors were pretty even for around 1.5 quarters before Toronto unleashed a 22-4 run to end the first half, a streak accentuated with a banked Kyle Lowry three-pointer (he scored a game-high 36 points on 11-for-19 shooting with 6-for-9 from three) at the buzzer. That triple gave the Raptors a 62-44 advantage in front of a pandemonium at the ACC and a stunned Nets team.
2. The third quarter was much of the same, as a sluggish and disinterested Nets team saw their deficit increase to as much as 26 at one point. It was 22 heading into the fourth quarter, which has been a bad one for Brooklyn this series.
3. Brooklyn went off in the final frame, scoring 44 points (to Toronto’s 24) as Joe Johnson (team-high 30 points) led a furious comeback attempt that saw the Nets climb back to tie the score at 101 with 3:18 on a Joe three-pointer. The run was magnificent, and silenced the home crowd as the Nets played near-perfect offense and defense to even the game and give themselves a chance to win.
4. However, Toronto would call a timeout after that three and scored the next five points to take the lead right back. The never-ending back-and-forth nature of this game would shine through though, as a pair of Andray Blatche free throws and a Mirza three tied it up at 106. As they did so much tonight, the Raptors would immediately answer, keeping Brooklyn away from a lead. The deadly combo of Lowry and DeMar Derozan scored the final nine points for Toronto to close out the Nets.
5. Still, down five with 17 ticks left, the Nets were gifted a chance as Alan Anderson drilled a corner three while getting fouled by Amir Johnson, who fouled out on the play. Anderson would go on to convert on his second 4-point-play of the quarter and the Raptors were just up 113-112. However, a dumb reach-in foul on Mirza gave DeRozan two free throws that he hit, forcing the Nets to go back to the free throw line after Toronto intentionally fouled Blatche.
6. Blatche made the first, putting Nets down two, but intentionally missed the second, and Shaun Livingston was able to fly in to tap the ball back to Blatche, who had an open 15-footer he could take. He didn’t pull the trigger, and tried to get the ball to a wide open Deron Williams for a three, but he airmailed his pass into the backcourt for a game-ending violation. A massive mistake for Blatche, who just has these brain cramps too often.
7. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, who combined for a brutal -46 rating in 36 minutes, each didn’t play a single minute in the final quarter as Jason Kidd stuck with the players who brought his team back into the fold. Those players would be Mirza (17 points, seven rebounds, +31 rating), Anderson (13 points), Deron (13 points, nine assists, four steals), Joe (30 on 13-for-23 shooting), Livingston, and Blatche (+15 rating).
8. The Nets went 22-for-30 from the free-throw line in this game, which rounds to 73%. That’s okay, not good and not awful, but those are eight free points the Nets gave away in a game in which they needed each and every one so badly. Also, Brooklyn only forced 13 turnovers and committed 15, so the Nets once again lost the all-important giveaway battle. Good news: Toronto only outrebounded the Nets by a margin of 37-34.
9. This loss, to be totally honest, made me sick to my stomach. Brooklyn, after one of the worst playoffs first halves a coach could ask for, came all the way back into this game but just couldn’t get the needed stop, make the needed shot, or complete the needed pass to take the lead. What do they get for all that? A must-win on their home floor.
Looking Ahead
The Nets have one last chance to salvage their season on Friday night in Game 6. If they win, there will be a Game 7 in Toronto.
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