Apr

6

Vin-Sanity Lives; At Least For A Night Nets Stay Alive By Topping Toronto 99-90

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

It is highly unlikely that the New Jersey Nets will make the?NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs this season.? They currently trail the Atlanta Hawks by?four games with each team having five remaining game. To complicate matters more, the Indiana Pacers are between the two teams a half game ahead of New Jersey. So the Nets would realistically win all five, have the Hawks lose all five, and have the Pacers lose at least once. Odds on that happening are not good, but the Nets still can hope after Vince Carter balky right ankle and all looked like vintage “Vin-Sanity” as he scored a game high 32 points to led New Jersey over the suddenly turbulent Toronto Raptors Saturday night 99-90.

If you have followed the Association for any length of time you have seen teams that end the regular season looking dazed and confused but turn it around in the playoffs. But those teams are the exceptions to the rule. The Toronto Raptors a couple of weeks ago were comfortably perched in the number five seed destined to play the Cleveland Cavaliers.? They are now below .500, in seventh place, and although they have a spot locked up, and are assured of being in the post season they are as close to the eighth seed as they are to the fifth.

This game had all the markings of a good old fashioned blow out in the first half. The Nets pulled ahead in the first quarter, and at the end of the period led 33-26. Toronto never really came close to New Jersey in the second quarter, and the teams went to their respective locker rooms at the half with the Nets on top 56-48. But Toronto made their run during the third quarter, they tied the game at 67-67 as Chris Bosh hit a pair at the line with 5:48 left in the quarter. They took their first lead of the period at 70-69 when point guard T.J. Ford connected on a 24 foot trey with 4:41 in the period. But New Jersey took back the lead by the end of the quarter, and the two opponents went into the fourth with the Nets ahead 76-74. New Jersey would quickly end any suspense in the opening minutes of the final quarter as they started the period on a 13-4 tear. The Nets led 89-78 with 8:17 remaining after a trey by Marcus Williams. Toronto never regained their footing.

Carter scored a game high 32 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block in the New Jersey victory. Richard Jefferson scored 28 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, Devin Harris scored 12 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds. Stromile Swift had another nice game off the bench scoring 10 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal.

Rasho Nestrovic recorded a double-double with 22 points, 14 boards, 3 blocks, 1 steal.? Chris Bosh also recorded a double-double, 18 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, T.J. Ford scored 13 points, 3 assists, 1 steal. ?Jamario Moon also scored 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block.? Anthony Parker scored 11 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 steal. New Jersey is 32-45, Toronto is 38-39.
? Copyright 2008 thesackattack.com





Comments

2 Responses to “Vin-Sanity Lives; At Least For A Night Nets Stay Alive By Topping Toronto 99-90”

  1. Linkage - April 6 — The AltRaps Blog on April 6th, 2008 10:53 am

    [...] - Slam Dunk Central [...]

  2. ALan on April 6th, 2008 12:33 pm

    New Jersey is really unlikely to go to playoff this year. However, they have some potential guy like Harris and Drop. I think the trade with Dallas will eventally impact the team.

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