The NBA playoffs standings has the Brooklyn Nets and Toronto Raptors tied at 2-2 in their east first round series after the Raptors won over the Nets and now things are knotted up heading back to Toronto after the Nets dropped one of two games at the Barclays Center and the next matchup comes on Wednesday for Game 5 and now Deron Williams and Paul Pierce will have to try and win two of the next three.
The Nets took game 1 in Toronto before losing to the Raptors and then the team won in Brooklyn for Game 3 and now the two sides will look to win two of the next three games to finish the series and the Nets now will be tested. The team is made up of veterans and having to play extra games and a potential seven game series could be very costly, especially with the Miami Heat as the next possible matchup and they are up 3-0 against the Charlotte Bobcats and could be very well rested by the time the two teams face off.
DeMar DeRozan has been playing great over the past three games and he has been one of the main reasons why the Raptors have been able to hang into the series. DeRozan scored 30 points in the previous two games and he had 24 points in the matchup on Sunday and he bested Paul Pierce, who led the way with 22 points for the Nets to lead the team. Brooklyn now has to win two of three games to advance and the Raptors will have two of those at home and the next game is back in Canada on Wednesday for Game 5.
The Raptors were leading the game before the Nets came back, but they couldn't hold on either and and Raptors also got solid play from Patrick Patterson and Greivis Vasquez, who led the team in rebounds and assists. Andray Blatche and Deron Williams were tops in rebounds and assists for the Nets and now the team must bounce back to win Game 5 in Toronto. The Raptors had a 17 point lead in the game before giving it up and they were able to hang on for the win.
Check here for the NBA playoffs standings and schedule for the first round of the playoffs.
