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Raptors visit Nets in crucial Game 3 on Friday
By: Zach Cohen - StatFox
Published: 4/25/2014  at  5:01:00 AM
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TORONTO RAPTORS (49-35)

at BROOKLYN NETS (45-39)

NBA Playoffs - Eastern Conference First Round
Game 3 - Series tied 1-1
Tip-off: Friday, 7:05 p.m. ET
Line: Toronto -4.5, Total: 191

The Raptors look to steal a win back from the Nets when the two teams meet for Game 3 in New York on Friday evening.

Toronto was in a must-win situation on Tuesday night and was able to pick up the 100-95 victory (ATS push) to even up the series at 1-1. The Raptors won despite committing 20 turnovers and being outscored by eight points in the third quarter. They crushed their opponent on the glass with a 52-30 rebounding advantage Toronto has now won seven of its past 10 games (3-6-1 ATS), and now hits the road where it is a solid 22-19 SU (25-15-1 ATS) this season. Brooklyn's loss on Tuesday drops the club to 2-5 SU (1-5-1 ATS) in the past seven contests, but it is happy to return home considering its stellar 28-13 SU and 24-17 ATS records at Barclays Center. Over the past three seasons, the Nets hold a slight 8-6 SU advantage (6-6-2 ATS), including 4-2 SU (3-2-1 ATS) at home where Over has occurred in four of those six meetings. Both teams have multiple favorable betting trends for this contest, as the Raptors are 15-6 ATS (71%) after having lost two of their previous three games this season, and are 31-15 ATS (67%) after failing to cover the spread in two or more consecutive games over the past three seasons. However, the Nets are 15-7 ATS (68%) revenging a road loss versus an opponent this season and 13-5 ATS (72%) in home games in the second half of this season. A win for the Raptors would help them to reclaim their home-court advantage in this series.

Toronto needed a big performance from SG DeMar DeRozan (22.0 PPG in series) in Game 2 and they certainly got that. DeRozan played 38 minutes and finished with 30 points (9-of-21 FG, 12-of-14 FT) after scoring just 14 in Game 1. He will need to continue to attack the basket and use his athleticism to take advantage of the slower Nets who attempt to defend him. PF Amir Johnson (9.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG in series) had a good game for Toronto on Tuesday as well with 16 points (8-of-10 FG), nine rebounds, two blocks and a +12 rating in 37 minutes. Johnson had just two points in Game 1 and the Raptors will need him to continue playing well going forward. PG Greivis Vasquez (14.5 PPG, 8.0 APG, 3.5 RPG in series) has given the Raptors some huge minutes off the bench this series with a near double-double in just 27.0 MPG. His +12 rating tied Johnson for the game's best mark in Game 2. Vasquez is able to give starting PG Kyle Lowry (18.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.0 APG in series) some rest, as well as play alongside him in two point-guard lineups. Lowry had 14 points (4-of-11 FG), nine rebounds and six assists in Game 2, but he has struggled to find his outside shot in these playoffs, making just 11-of-29 FG (38%). C Jonas Valanciunas (16.0 PPG, 16.0 RPG in series) has played some of his best basketball in the playoffs with two straight double-doubles, but he has turned the ball over 11 times so far in this series. The Nets have not had an answer for his size (6-foot-11), and Toronto would be wise to keep feeding him in the post.

The Nets were unable to steal Game 2 in Toronto and a lot of that had to do with SF Paul Pierce (11.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.5 APG, 2.0 SPG in series) losing his Game 1 magic. After hitting some huge shots in the series opener to finish with 15 points, Pierce had just seven points on 2-of-11 FG (0-of-6 threes) on Tuesday. If Pierce is not making jumpers, the Nets will have trouble winning this series. PG Deron Williams (19.5 PPG, 4.0 APG in series) had 15 points and five assists in Game 2, but he was not efficient shooting the ball (5-of-15 FG, 2-of-6 threes) and seemed a step slower than he did in Game 1. The move back to Brooklyn for Game 3 could re-energize the Nets’ superstar. SG Joe Johnson (21.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.0 APG in series) had 18 points (7-of-13 FG) in 37 minutes on Tuesday, and his size has given the Raptors some trouble on the perimeter, so the Nets will continue to isolate him going forward. One player who was a huge spark for Brooklyn off the bench was PF Mirza Teletovic (8.0 PPG in 17.5 MPG in series). The sharpshooter came in and scored 14 points (5-of-11 FG, 3-of-6 threes) in just 23 minutes of play. He had just two points in Game 1, and his offense will be very important to this Nets team, especially if Pierce is off from outside. C Kevin Garnett (9.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG in series) was much better offensively in Game 2, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 FG, compared to his five points on 1-of-5 FG in Game 1.


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