Game 1 Eastern Conference Quarter Finals Recap: Pierce and KG drive the Nets to steal home court from the Raptors Featured

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Game 1 Eastern Conference Quarter Finals: Brooklyn Nets 94, TORONTO RAPTORS 87 

Game 1 Eastern Conference Quarter Finals: Brooklyn Nets 94, TORONTO RAPTORS 87

Different city, different colors, different team- Same “old” Truth.

Paul Pierce scored 9 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter for the Nets to steal homecourt and take a 1-0 series lead over the Toronto Raptors.

With little impact in the first three quarters, Kevin Garnett and Pierce saved their best for last.

The Raptors rallied from a 8-point deficit to tie the score at 73 before the Nets called a timeout to put Garnett and Pierce back in with 6:25 left in the fourth quarter.

Not scoring since the first quarter, their playoff experience paid off for the Nets as Garnett and Pierce scored 11 straight points.

Pierce hit a 3-pointer to take an insurmountable 82-76 lead with 2:38 left for the Nets who had missed 19 straight 3-pointers before. The Nets struggled all night from 3-point range hitting only 4-of-24.

Joe Johnson and Deron Williams scored 24 points each, from a combined 16-of-33, that fuelled the Nets to a 25-13 lead in the first quarter before the Raptors came back to trail 50-46 at halftime.

It’s early but after an early first-round exit in the playoffs last year against the Bulls, the Nets’ trade for Pierce and Garnett appears to have gone to plan.

While the Nets played with the focus and patience of an experienced team, the Raptors were rushed and panicked in their offence.

Kyle Lowry led the Raptors with 22 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds, and Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 18 rebounds.

DeMar DeRozan struggled throughout the game hitting only 3 field goals to finish with 13 points from 3-of-13.

Next game is Tuesday night in Toronto and this series could end more quickly than people thought.