Raptors 98, Nets 92: Bargnani Too Much For New Jersey

Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Leandro Barbosa's three-pointer with 14.9 seconds remaining gave the Toronto Raptors some key separation, and they went on to top the New Jersey Nets, 98-92, at Air Canada Centre.

Andrea Bargnani finished with a game-high 32 points and Jose Calderon added 15 points and 14 assists for the Raptors, who snapped a two-game skid. Linas Kleiza notched a double-double of 18 points and 12 boards for the victors.

DeMar DeRozan added 14 points and Barbosa scored 10 in a reserve role for the Raptors.

Brook Lopez led New Jersey with 20 points and Kris Humphries scored 12 to go with 12 rebounds for the Nets, who have dropped 10 straight on the road. Devin Harris added 15 and Travis Outlaw scored 14 off the bench in the loss.

Down 79-73 with 9 1/2 minutes to play, Toronto went on a 16-2 push to take an 89-81 lead inside five minutes remaining. Bargnani ignited the run with a triple and Calderon finished it with a layup.

The Nets then made five out of six from the line while Toronto missed its next five shot attempts. Bargnani ended the slump with a turnaround jumper at 1:56 to give the Raptors a 92-88 advantage.

After Lopez connected on a short tip-in to cut the deficit to 94-92, Barbosa's three-pointer gave Toronto the final space it would need.

DeRozan made 1-of-2 from the line with 6.9 seconds left to account for the final margin.

New Jersey held a 23-21 lead after a back-and-forth first quarter and widened the gap to 48-42 at the half.

The Raptors got 13 points from Bargnani in the third quarter, but the Nets countered by shooting 55.6 percent and held a 71-69 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

Friday was the first in a four-game home stand for the Raptors...Calderon (foot) and Bargnani (knee) returned after missing time for Toronto...The Raptors won the rebounding margin, 43-39...New Jersey is 2-12 on the road this season...The Nets had won the five previous contests in this series...New Jersey scored 50 of its points in the paint.

New Jersey Nets at Toronto Raptors: Searching For The Elusive Winning Streak

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets hope to build on their first win in nearly three weeks when they hit the hardwood tonight against Atlantic Division-rival Toronto in the Air Canada Centre.

The Nets found themselves on the right side of the box score for the first time in December on Thursday when Devin Harris scored 29 points and handed out nine assists, as New Jersey downed the road-weary Washington Wizards, 97-89, to snap an eight-game losing streak at the Prudential Center.

Brook Lopez chipped in 18 points, while Kris Humphries totaled 12 points and 17 rebounds in New Jersey's first win since November 28 against Portland.

Nick Young scored 22 points and Gilbert Arenas added 19 points and nine helpers for the Wizards, who fell to 0-13 as the visitor this season. Both teams came in with an Eastern Conference-worst six wins.

"This is one we had to have," said Harris. "From here on out we've got to fight for every one."

The Raptors, meanwhile, lost their second straight contest in the opener of a four-game homestand Wednesday when Carlos Boozer scored a season-high 34 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, as the streaking Chicago Bulls dominated Toronto, 110-93.

Leandro Barbosa ended with 21 points off the bench for the Raptors, who have lost six of seven overall. Jerryd Bayless finished with 20 points in defeat.

"[Boozer's] one of the premier power forwards in the league...Our young guys have to play against that and they have to learn how to be like that," Raptors head coach Jay Triano said.

Toronto, which is 6-7 on its home floor, will also face the LA Lakers and Detroit on its residency.

The Raptors have beaten New Jersey, which is just 2-11 as the visitor this season, five consecutive times.