Daily NBA Fix 5-3-14: A Very Sudden Death For Houston Rockets

By Phil Watson | May 3, 2014

May 2, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; iHouston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) last second shot in the second half in game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center.Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

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May 2, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets small forward Alan Anderson (6) controls the ball in front of Toronto Raptors power forward Amir Johnson (15) during the third quarter of game six of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Raptors 97-83. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

BROOKLYN NETS 97, Toronto Raptors 83
Game 6, Eastern Conference First Round
The Brooklyn Nets blew out to a 34-19 lead after one period and led by as many as 26 in forcing a decisive Game 7 Sunday in Toronto.

The closest the Raptors got after the first quarter was cutting Brooklyn’s lead to 10 points twice in the fourth quarter.

Deron Williams shook off a second-half injury scare that nearly took the luster off the evening in the Barclays Center, scoring 23 points despite the ankle sprain sustained in the third period. His status for Game 7 is unknown at this point.

Joe Johnson added 17 points for the Nets, who scored a series-best 47 points in the paint and won the rebounding battle for the first time in the series, 45-42. Paul Pierce had 12 points and three steals and Kevin Garnett, playing 27 minutes—his longest stint of the postseason—scored 13 points.

Toronto shot just 38.5 percent. DeMar DeRozan led the Raptors with 28 points, but Kyle Lowry was the only other player in double figures for Toronto, scoring 11 points on 4-of-16 shooting.