Nets 116, Raptors 103: Home Sweet Home In London

(Sports Network) - Brook Lopez scored 25 points and Kris Humphries posted a double-double, as the Nets opened a two-game series against the Raptors at London's O2 Arena with a 116-103 victory.

Humphries ended with 18 points and 17 rebounds for New Jersey, which will face Toronto again on Saturday. The back-to-back games are the first regular season NBA contests held in Europe.

The Nets snapped a six-game losing streak after getting 16 points and 11 assists from point guard Deron Williams, who got his first victory in a New Jersey uniform. The club acquired him from Utah last week.

DeMar DeRozan poured in 30 points and Andrea Bargnani had 23 for the Raptors, who were coming off Tuesday's win against New Orleans.

A close game boiled down to the fourth quarter, and Nets reserve guard Sundiata Gaines helped his team gain an advantage for the stretch. His three- point play and layup with nine minutes left broke a tie and immediately gave New Jersey a two-possession lead.

Damion James added a jumper to make it a 91-84 contest.

After Bargnani countered with a three-point play, Gaines hit a jumper to start another 7-0 run. Lopez's jumper with 6:41 remaining capped the rally and gave the Nets a 98-87 advantage.

New Jersey continued to make shots in key situations down the stretch, preventing Toronto from trimming its deficit to a single possession. After DeRozan's layup with 4:36 left pulled the Raptors within five, Williams and Lopez answered with buckets on consecutive Nets touches.

Toronto's James Johnson then sank a layup to make it a 104-97 game with 3:01 on the clock, but Williams drilled a three, and New Jersey held on from there.

The Nets held a 27-23 edge after the first quarter, but the Raptors pulled ahead by halftime, 51-47. The first half was tight throughout, as neither team led by more than seven or held onto a lead for very long -- there were five lead changes and nine ties.

New Jersey starting guard Anthony Morrow left the game after hitting his head...James finished with 15 points for the Nets, who shot 55.6 percent...The Raptors got 12 assists from Jose Calderon and 12 points from Ed Davis...Toronto had won the previous six meetings.

New Jersey Nets Vs. Toronto Raptors: London Calling

The New Jersey Nets will play the role of home team on Friday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors, even though the team had to travel across the Atlantic Ocean just to get to the arena.  That's what happens when you are a participating in the first ever regular season game in Europe, which will happen at the o2 Arena in London.

PG Deron Williams is still searching for his first victory as a member of the Nets after dropping his first three, including a 104-103 heartbreaker Monday night to the Phoenix Suns in overtime.  Brook Lopez led the Nets with 28 points, while Anthony Morrow had 22 and Williams delivered his third straight double-double with 13 points and 18 assists.

The Raptors have lost four of their last six, but were 96-90 winners Tuesday night in Toronto against the New Orleans Hornets.  Jose Calderon paced the home team with a season-high 22 points and 16 assists.  DeMar DeRozan had 17 while Sonny Weems added 14 off the bench.

Williams, with a strained right wrist and bruised left hand, is expected to play, as is Jordan Farmar, who missed the Suns game with an ankle injury but practiced in full on Thursday.

Andrea Bargnani missed a game last weekend with flu-like symptoms, but he returned on Tuesday to score 14 points and should not have any limitations in London.

These two teams will meet up again on Saturday -- another Nets "home" game -- before making the trip back to North America.