News / Sports
NBA Scores: Raptors Hold Off Nets Rally, Take Game Five
Jose Calderon came up big playing for an injured T.J Ford and scored 19 points and handing out 8 assists while Andrea Bargnani added 18 points and the Toronto Raptors held off a rally by the New Jersey Nets 98-96 to win game five of their Eastern Conference playoff series. Toronto now trails 3-2 in the first round match-up.
The Raptors jumped to a 20 point advantage after the first quarter as Barganani scored 13 points and Anthony Parker netted 11 of his 18 points in the opening frame as it looked as if the Raptors would cruise to a home win.
By the beginning of the fourth quarter the Nets had trimmed their deficit to 12 and then cut the score to 81-85 on a 13-6 run in the first five minutes of the final period. Richard Jefferson hit a pair of buckets to get the Nets within two but Morris Peterson hit four free-throws in 23 seconds to push the Raptors lead to six.
Mikki Moore’s tip in with 16 seconds on the clock brought the Nets within one, 97-96 and when Chris Bosh hit one of two free-throws for the Raptors New Jersey had the final 15 seconds to tie the score but Bostjan Nachbar elected to go for the win and missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
Vince Carter led the Nets with 30 points in the loss.
Both teams will meet again in New Jersey on Friday for game six of their best of seven series.
