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Daily NBA Fix 5-5-14: Great 1st Round … What’s Next?

By Phil Watson

May 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd celebrates their victory with point guard Deron Williams (8) and forward Alan Anderson (6) against the Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Nets beat the Raptors 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd celebrates their victory with point guard Deron Williams (8) and forward Alan Anderson (6) against the Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Nets beat the Raptors 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) is stopped by Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce (34) on the final play of the game in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Nets beat the Raptors 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
May 4, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) is stopped by Brooklyn Nets forward Paul Pierce (34) on the final play of the game in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. The Nets beat the Raptors 104-103. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Brooklyn Nets 104, TORONTO RAPTORS 103
Game 7, Eastern Conference First Round
The Nets really did try to blow a nine-point lead in the final 3:15, but survived when Paul Pierce blocked Kyle Lowry’s driving floater as time expired.

The Nets took control of the game in the second quarter, opening a 61-53 halftime lead, and led by as much as 12 points in the third quarter and by 11 in the fourth before the Raptors charged back.

Toronto got the deficit down to one point twice in the final minute and was in a position to win the game after Terrence Ross stole a pass from Shaun Livingston with 7.9 seconds remaining. Lowry fought through a double team of Deron Williams and Kevin Garnett before he was met in the paint by Pierce, who came up with the block to save the series for Brooklyn.

Joe Johnson paced the Nets with 26 points and Marcus Thornton came off the bench to score 17. Kevin Garnett finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

Lowry had 28 points for the Raptors, Amir Johnson went for 20 points and 10 rebounds, DeMar DeRozan scored 18 points and Patrick Patterson had 16 off the bench. Jonas Valanciunas, so efficient through most of the series, disappeared in Game 7 with just three points on 1-for-5 shooting and five rebounds in 27 minutes.

The Nets go on to face the Heat in the conference semifinals.