Nets Clamp Down in Second Half to Put Raptors Away

The Nets opened up Tuesday night's game at the Meadowlands with a 15-0 run, but the Raptors caught up by the early second quarter and led by one at the break behind Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon, who combined for 31 first-half points. The Nets picked up the D after that though, holding the Raptors to just 39% shooting in the second half and used an 11-2 run in the third quarter to give them some seperation. The Nets led by as many as 16 midway through the fourth and after Toronto closed to within eight, the Nets put them away with a 7-0 run. Vince Carter led all scorers with 32 points (24 in the first half), Jason Kidd was seemingly undistracted with 10 points, seven rebounds and 14 assists, Richard Jefferson added 21, Jason Collins held Chris Bosh in check, and Boki Nachbar provided a late lift off the bench with 12 points and five boards.

• Boxscore - NBA.com
• Carter Carries Nets Into First Place - Tom Canavan - NBA.com (AP)
• Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
• Group Therapy - Joe - Joe Netsfan
• Nets Overcome Their Off-Court Distractions - John Eligon - New York Times
• Captain leads Nets back into first - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
• Collins' return blots out Bosh - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
• Kidd, Nets maintain focus - Al Iannazzone - YES Network
• Lawrence Frank Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
• Vince Carter Interview (Video) - Mark Jackson - YES Network
• Richard Jefferson Interview (Video) - YES Network
• Courtside Chatter (Video) - Marv Albert & Mark Jackson - YES Network
• Postgame Podcast (mp3) - YES Network
• Jason wasn't Kidd-ing - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Collins back in fray - Brian Lewis - YES Network
• Kidd's all right in win - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
• Captain delivers for Nets - Al Iannazzone - The Record
• Raps get `good slap' - Doug Smith - Toronto Star
• Raptors' big pair fold - Mike Ganter - Toronto Sun
• Mitchell sticks with Rasho - Mike Ganter - Toronto Sun
• Raptors crushed by Carter, Nets - CBC
• Photo Gallery: New Jersey Nets vs. Toronto Raptors - Bill Kostroun - AP
• Titanic Division May Actually Send Two to Playoffs - John Hollinger - New York Sun