Nets hang on after late Raptors surge, take 2-1 series lead

Your move, Portland and Houston. The Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors took the mantle back for best series of the opening round Friday night, engaging in yet another tight battle.

Ultimately, the Nets hung on for the 102-98 victory on their home court, taking a 2-1 series lead. Many will talk about the officiating in this one, as has been the case all series, but the fact continues to remain that these teams are also just really, really evenly matched. To wit, they've now played seven times this year, with the Nets winning four but only outscoring the Raptors by eight points in total.

Star Performer

The referees. At least, they're all anybody was talking about as they made several controversial calls (both ways) down the stretch. They're who people pay to see, right?

In seriousness, the Raptors still have no answer for Joe Johnson. He had 29 points on 11-of-17 shooting and is now 25-of-43 for the series. DeMar DeRozan may be keeping up on the offensive end, but the Raptors need to find a way to limit the seven-time All-Star.

Turning Point

For a while, a quiet Barclays Center and a hot Raptors team had it looking like this one would be more Game 2 than Game 1. And then, with 2:59 left in the first half, Paul Pierce scored to key a 12-1 Nets run, pushing them from a three-point deficit to an eight-point lead, one they would not surrender the rest of the game.

There was an alternate turning point, too, one that is sure to leave Raptors fans (and conspiracy theorists) steamed. Down 15 with 5:43 to play, the Raptors stormed back to within four points. Then, with just 47 seconds left, officials called a shooting foul on Greivis Vasquez on a Deron Williams drive. It was borderline, but the bigger turning point came after the foul, when officials hit Vasquez with an undeserved (and poorly timed) technical foul, helping stretch the lead back to six, just out of reach for the Raptors, as it turned out.

Highlight Reel

Let's say Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were fired up after all the trash talk in the days preceding this one.

They weren't the only ones, though. The Raptors' players may not have had it, but coach Dwane Casey and one crazy, lint-rolling fan sure did.

[Courtesy: TSN]

Quotes of the Night - Kyle Lowry had a tough game

Meanwhile, for the first time in the series there won't be two days off between games. Life ain't fair.

Series at a glance

Game 1: BRK 94, TOR 87 (Nets lead 1-0)
Game 2: TOR 100, BRK 95 (Series tied 1-1)
Game 3: BRK 102, TOR 98 (Nets lead 2-1)
Game 4: Sunday, April 27 - 7:00 p.m. ET
Game 5: Wednesday, April 30 - TBA
Game 6*: Friday, May 2 - TBA
Game 7*: Sunday, May 4 - TBA