The New Jersey Nets put an end to their six-game losing streak Friday night with an 97-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. It was the Nets second victory of the season and first on the road.
Deron Williams returned from a one-game absence due to a sore side and had his best game of the season. The point guard had a game-high 24 points along with nine assists and five rebounds. The Raptors didn't have anyone that could stay in front of Williams.
Anthony Morrow also had 24 for New Jersey, hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, despite butting head with the Raptors Amir Johnson and briefly being attended to by Nets trainers. DeShawn Stevenson, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time as a member of the Nets, added 15 points in 33 minutes.
Of course it wouldn't be a Nets game without a fresh injury. This time it was starting center Mehmet Okur who came up lame after a missed layup after just three minutes. He was diagnosed with back spasms and missed the rest of the game.
The Raptors were led by Jose Calderon's 19 points and eight assists. Andrea Bargnani came into the game having scored at least 20 points in six straight games, but he managed just 17, while DeMar DeRozan had been averaging 18.5 points and was held to three on 1-for-6 shooting from the field.
The victory was the first time in five games New Jersey was able to pull out a victory in Toronto.
There won't be much time for the Nets to savor this win with the Miami Heat waiting for them at the Prudential Center on Saturday night.