Nets-Raptors Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Apr 25 2012 1:45PM

The New Jersey Nets' last game representing the Garden State won't even be in the United States, and the franchise already seems ready for the move to Brooklyn.

The visiting Nets and the Toronto Raptors close their disappointing seasons Thursday night, and the loser will finish in last place in the Atlantic Division.

New Jersey (22-43) played its final home game Monday, falling 105-87 to Philadelphia. After 35 years in the Garden State, the club will begin play in Brooklyn next season.

"I'm excited," said rookie guard MarShon Brooks, born in Long Branch, N.J. "I'm a little sad leaving New Jersey, but I'm Brooklyn ready. I have the whole offseason to think about Brooklyn."

Brooks, a bright spot over the past six games with an average of 16.5 points, led New Jersey with 18 on Monday in front of a rare sellout crowd.

"It was really just an eerie feeling, just some mixed emotions," coach Avery Johnson said. "And I think it finally hit me during the course of the game that this was it for us playing here in New Jersey."

The Nets' website already features the Twitter hashtag #HELLOBROOKLYN, and it's doubtful many of their fans will make the trip north to Toronto (22-43).

New Jersey has dropped five straight while the Raptors have lost four in a row. Both clubs are playing without their starting point guards, with the Nets' Deron Williams sidelined by an injured right calf and the Raptors' Jose Calderon out with an eye injury.

The similarities don't end there, with both teams getting injury-plagued campaigns from their 2010-11 top scorers. Toronto's Andrea Bargnani has been limited to 31 games due to a calf problem while New Jersey's Brook Lopez played only five games because of foot and ankle issues.

Third-year swingman DeMar DeRozan has been forced to shoulder the load for Toronto with Bargnani out. DeRozan showed some frustration as he was ejected from Monday's 92-86 loss at Milwaukee for throwing the ball after he was whistled for traveling.

"We talked about it after the game and it's a teaching moment for him," coach Dwane Casey said. "It's part of his maturity process. When you're the man on the team, you've got to be responsible for that."

James Johnson had 22 points and a career-high 13 rebounds Monday. The former Bulls first-round draft pick is averaging 15.6 points over his last five contests.

"I'm putting things together," he said. "Now that we have a couple of guys out I'm finally putting the pieces together and it's working out."

New Jersey has won two of three from Toronto this season. The Raptors, whose first game as a franchise was a home victory over the Nets in 1995, have won eight of the last 11 meetings in Canada.

Uzoh has triple-double as Raptors rout Nets

Posted Apr 26 2012 11:07PM

TORONTO (AP) On a night when the only thing worth winning was a few extra ping-pong balls for the NBA draft lottery, the Nets wrapped up their New Jersey years with barely a whimper.

Ben Uzoh had 12 points, a career-high 12 assists and 11 rebounds for his first career triple-double, and the Toronto Raptors routed New Jersey 98-67 in Thursday night's season finale, a loss that slightly improves the Nets' chances in next month's draft lottery.

The game marked the final time the Nets played as a New Jersey-based team; they'll move to a new home in Brooklyn next season.

"This is our farewell, for good," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "Now we embark on a new opportunity, and it starts when the clock strikes midnight tonight. Even though we lost this game this is a new era in Nets basketball, and that's what we're focusing on."

Johnson said Brooklyn fans will see a better team next year than this season's 22-44 squad that finished by losing six straight.

"We like a lot of our guys," Johnson said. "We definitely need to upgrade in some areas and that's what we're going to do."

Raptors fans were also told of brighter days ahead. Toronto-born center Jamaal Magloire addressed the crowd before the game, thanking fans for their support in a "turbulent season" and promising a playoff berth next year.

"That's what the plan is, that's where we're going," guard Jose Calderon said. "We know we've got some guys coming. We've got another draft pick and for sure a couple of free agents will be here. I think we're not that far from being a really good team."

Uzoh's triple-double was the first by a Toronto player since Alvin Williams did it against Atlanta on March 23, 2001.

"He had a heck of a game," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "I doubted his point guard skills at times but I just watched a young man grow in his two 10-day contracts."

Johnson also had praise for Uzoh, who played 42 games for New Jersey last season.

"He played hard and he played well," Johnson said. "Hopefully he'll be on an NBA roster next year. He's just such a good kid."

Ed Davis had a career-best 24 points to go with 12 rebounds, Gary Forbes had 23 points and Alan Anderson scored 20 as Toronto snapped a four-game skid and beat New Jersey for the ninth time in 12 meetings north of the border. Solomon Alabi set career-highs with 11 points and 19 rebounds, his first double-double.

Anthony Morrow and Armon Johnson each had 11 points, and Gerald Green and Jordan Williams added 10 apiece as the Nets lost their fifth straight and set a season low for points. The defeat ensured the Nets will finish last in the Atlantic division, one game behind Toronto.

Johan Petro scored the final basket in New Jersey Nets history, a jump shot with 25 seconds left.

"This is the way to keep my name in some book," he said. "I was just trying to make the shot, I wasn't thinking about the whole history about it."

Uzoh entered the fourth quarter needing six points, two rebounds and one assist to complete the triple-double. After getting the assists and boards, he finished the job by throwing down a breakaway dunk with 6:19 to play, putting Toronto up 86-50.

"Easy basket always helps, right?" Uzoh said with a smile. "It's pretty cool. My teammates were rooting me on and pushed me to try and get there. That's a big thing in this league. I'm definitely happy that it happened."

Neither team was close to full strength in a forlorn finale. Deron Williams (right calf), Gerald Wallace (left hamstring) and Kris Humphries (right foot) were among the seven Nets players sidelined by injury. Toronto was without five players, including DeMar DeRozan (left ankle) and Aaron Gray (back), as well as long-term absentees Andrea Bargnani, shut down for the year with a sore left calf, and Jerryd Bayless, out with a torn muscle in his left side.

In all, only seven of Toronto's nine healthy players made it onto the court. Amir Johnson and Linas Kleiza both dressed but did not play.

Anderson made a trio of 3-pointers as the Raptors opened a 17-2 lead with 7:27 left in the first, but New Jersey cut it to 26-15 after one.

Forbes scored eight points in the second, Davis and Anderson had six each and the Raptors pulled away to lead 54-27 at the half. New Jersey shot just 4 for 19 in the quarter.

Alabi and Davis each scored eight points in the third as Toronto widened its advantage, taking a 73-43 lead into the fourth.

NOTES: Three Toronto players had double-doubles, the first time that's happened since Dec. 31, 2010 at Houston. ... Davis is the only Raptors player to appear in all 66 games this season. ... The Raptors finished with 23 wins, one more than they had in 82 games last season when they were 22-60. ... Calderon missed his seventh straight game, sitting out to protect injuries around his right eye. ... The Nets were without Jordan Farmar (right groin), Shelden Williams (right knee) and long-term absentees Damion Jones (right foot) and Brook Lopez (right foot). ... New Jersey's previous low for points was 70, set three times this season.

Notebook: Raptors 98, Nets 67

Posted Thursday April 26, 2012 11:02PM

By Duane Watson, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: The Toronto Raptors (23-43) defeated the New Jersey Nets (22-44) 98-67 at the Air Canada Centre Thursday night. In a battle to avoid the dubious distinction of last place in the Atlantic Division, the Raptors came out on top. The Nets, meanwhile, played like a last place team, shooting only 30 percent from the field, doling out 15 turnovers and down by as many as 38 points.

The Raptors closed the first half 54-27 on a 15-0 run and never looked back. After extending their lead to 73-43 after the third quarter they closed the door in the fourth. Both teams had thin rosters due to injury, only seven players got on the floor for the Raptors with only eight players for the Nets.

The seven players were all the Raptors needed, led by Ed Davis' double-double, scoring a career high 24 points with 12 rebounds and Gary Forbes added 23 points. Ben Uzoh notched his first career triple-double with 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds, while Solomon Alabi had his first career double-double with 11 points 19 rebounds and 3 blocks, all career highs. The Nets were led by Anthony Morrow and Armon Johnson who scored 11 points each, Jordan Williams added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

The Raptors tied the season-series with the Nets 2-2 as they played their last game ever representing the city of New Jersey as they move to Brooklyn next season.

QUOTABLE: "This game was meaningless, but they came out and laid it on the line and played for 48 minutes."
-- Raptors head coach Dwane Casey

THE STAT: The score says it all, 98-67. The Nets were never in the game, and when they were close, shot themselves out of it, or turned over the ball, or... With only two starters in the game they didn't have the personnel available to make a serious run.

TURNING POINT: The Raptors started the game on 17-2 run and shot .500 per cent in the first quarter, the Nets could only muster 15 points in the frame. With the Raptors leading wire-to-wire, the Nets never came remotely close to contesting it.

QUOTABLE II: "I can't control that, but I definitely think I seized the moment tonight. I'm just going to keep working and hope for the best come summertime."
-- Raptors guard Ben Uzoh on trying to get a contract next season.

HOT: After the first half with the Raptors up 54-27, Raptors guard Anderson went 4-for-7 from the field and 4-for-5 from the 3-point line for 15 points. Davis had 12 points and 6 rebounds on 5-for-8 shooting. Their totals accounted for more than half of their team's scoring and equaled the Nets points for the half.

NOT: Where to start? The Nets shot .301 per cent on 25-for-83 shooting, gave up 15 turnovers and allowed three Raptors scorers to score 20 points or more. They can only be glad their season is over and will get a fresh start in Brooklyn.

NOTABLE: Uzoh's triple-double was the Raptors first since March 23rd since 2001 (Alvin Williams). ... With the win the Raptors tied the season series 2-2, the Raptors have not lost a season-series to the Nets since 2005-06. ... The Nets had a number of inactive players, Jordan Farmar (sore right groin), Deron Williams (sore right calf), Shelden Williams (hyper-extended right knee), Gerald Wallace (tight left hamstring), Kris Humphries (bruised right toe) and Damion James (right foot surgery) and Brook Lopez (right foot). ... The Raptors were without DeMar DeRozan (sore left ankle), Aaron Gray (back spasms), Jerryd Bayless (torn left oblique), Andrea Bargnani (left calf), while Jose Calderon, Linas Kleiza and Amir Johnson were healthy scratches ... The Nets 27 points in the first half was a season-low. ... The Raptors shot .526 per cent from the 3-point line on 10-for-19 shooting. ... With the win, Toronto passed it's win total of 22 last season.

• Nets: James, Lopez
• Raptors: Bargnani, Bayless

• Nets: --
• Raptors: Davis

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
• Officials: #30 John Goble, #61 Courtney Kirkland, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 18161
• Duration: 2:04