Nets Eliminate Raptors
Posted May 4, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Toronto Raptors were eliminated from the NBA playoffs in heartbreaking fashion Friday night, falling a point short of the New Jersey Nets, 98-97, in a game that went down to the wire and kept fans on the edges of their seats.
Richard Jefferson closed the show when he scored the winning basket with just 8.3 seconds to go. The Raptors had one last possession and drove to the net with authority, but Jefferson once again played the role of hero, intercepting Jose Calderon’s pass to assure the narrow victory.
The Nets, who won the best-of-seven series 4-2, now advance to face Cleveland for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Sunday.
Jason Kidd finished with 18 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds for the Nets, while Jefferson had 24 points and Vince Carter added 21.
Chris Bosh led the way for the dejected Raptors, scoring 23 points and nine assists.
“We played with a lot of character, a lot of heart. We had a chance to win the game. They just made one more big play than we did,” said Raptors coach Sam Mitchell.
