Nets Fall to Raptors 127-122 in Overtime

The Nets have had their struggles with teams with a record of .500 or better, and that would not change tonight with the Toronto Raptors coming to the Barclays Center to hand the Nets their 28th loss of the season, sending the struggling Brooklyn squad to 10 games under .500.

Led by Greivis Vasquez, Toronto got the game started with a quick 12-0 run in the first three and a half minutes of the game. The Nets didn't score a single point until Jarrett Jack hit a three pointer at the 8:07 mark of the first quarter. Brooklyn began to pick things up late in the quarter, though, as Toronto's 13 point lead evaporated to just one. A bad foul by Bojan Bogdanovic sent Lou Williams to the free throw line to shoot three free throws with just two seconds left, leading to a 29-23 lead for Toronto at the end of one.

Brooklyn was able to take their first lead of the game in the second quarter, and it was all thanks to Brook Lopez and his 19 first half points, as well as Jarrett Jack. Unfortunately for them, Toronto refused to just go away as they re-took their lead on the back of Lou Williams. The Nets' defense was a complete no-show once again, as they were outscored 37-31 in the second quarter, allowing Toronto to take a 66-54 lead into halftime.

Things started to get out of hand once again for Brooklyn, as Toronto extended their lead to 17 early in the third quarter. Joe Johnson, who had been invisible for the entire first half, decided to show up in the third quarter, and carried the Nets back into the game. The Nets were able to chip away once again, as the Toronto lead was cut down to just 9 on the back of a 12-4 run for Brooklyn.

The Nets turned the ball over on their first two possessions of the fourth quarter, but were lucky enough to not allow Toronto to score off of them. A Bojan Bogdanovic three and a Mason Plumlee layup brought Brooklyn to within six points. Toronto hit a wall in the fourth quarter, while the Nets caught fire, and Brooklyn's 15-2 run brought them to within two with much of the credit going to Jarrett Jack. Two made free throws by Mason Plumlee gave the Nets the two point lead with seven minutes to go. With 33 seconds to play, Joe Johnson hit a clutch shot over DeMar DeRozan, giving the Nets a one point lead. Amir Johnson put in a wide open dunk with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game up at 113. Brook Lopez would go on to miss the wide open jumper at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

Both teams were trading baskets throughout the overtime period, and neither team could pull away from the other. Mason Plumlee had a huge block on DeRozen, but Amir Johnson got the offensive rebound, got away with a blatant travel, and put in the layup giving Toronto the lead for good.

Jarrett Jack and Brook Lopez were the Nets' offense tonight, as each put up 35 points a piece. Brook Lopez added 12 rebounds, and Jarrett Jack added 13 assists and eight rebounds to his stat line. Jack's performance tonight was easily the best performance by a Nets player this season, but it was all for nothing as they leave with an L.

Final Score: 127-122, Raptors

Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: Nets shooting 4/19 from three.
Promising Stat of the Game: Jarrett Jack and Brook Lopez combining for 70 points and 20 rebounds.

Scariest Moment of the Game: Toronto taking a 16-3 lead to start the game.
Best Moment of the Game: Jarrett Jack lobs to Cory Jefferson!

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