It looked a lot like the New Jersey Nets were going to leave Canada on the losing end of a 30 point game. Then they made an impressive late-game surge to make it a game but ultimately falling to the Toronto Raptors 99-92. The Nets have now dropped three in a row, including 13 of 15.
Trailing by 20 points at the end of the third quarter, New Jersey chipped away throughout the fourth quarter and were within four following a Brook Lopez hook shot with 46 seconds remaining. However, the Raptors answered with three made free throws to finally finish off the Nets.
Lopez had a huge game once again, scoring 35 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Sasha Vujacic had 19 as the only other Nets player to score in double digits.
Playing once again without leading rebounder Kris Humphries, who is out for the season, New Jersey continued to lose the battle of the boards badly. Toronto held a 45-31 advantage.
Jerryd Bayless led five Raptors in double figures with 19 points. James Johnson, Ed Davis and DeMar DeRozan each added 18 points while Reggie Evans played physically in the post grabbing a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Nets are now down to their final two games of the season and judging by how quickly they are losing players to injury, they might not have a team if they had to last any longer. In addition to those already lost for the season -- Deron Williams, Humphries, Anthony Morrow -- rookie PG Ben Uzoh awkwardly fell to the floor late in the game and had to be helped to the bench. Uzoh was later diagnosed with a bruised right knee.
Those still in uniform for New Jersey will take on the Charlotte Bobcats Monday night at the Prudential Center.