Raptors 106 Nets 89
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rasho Nesterovic scored a season-high 16 points replacing a sidelined Chris Bosh and the Toronto Raptors showed off their depth without an injured all-star in a 106-89 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night.
Jarrett Jack added 18 points and Jose Calderon had 16 points as the Raptors had seven players in double figures in dropping the Nets to 5-50.
DeMar DeRozan and Hedo Turkoglu added 14 points apiece as Toronto shot nearly 60 per cent from the field in extending its franchise record for consecutive 100-point games to 19.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and Devin Harris 19 and 11 assists for New Jersey. Courtney Lee added 17 points in a game the Nets fell behind early and never caught up.
This marked the second straight game that the Nets have faced an opponent without their best player and again New Jersey came up short.
Miami lost all-star game MVP Dwyane Wade to a calf injury in the opening minutes here on Wednesday night and the Heat rallied for an 87-84 win as New Jersey missed 11 of its final 12 shots.
This latest loss puts New Jersey on pace to tie the NBA mark for fewest wins in a season, set by the Philadelphia 76ers (9-73) in 1972-73.
Toronto had an easy time in this one without Bosh, who sprained his left ankle on Wednesday in Toronto against the Memphis Grizzlies. He didn’t make the trip to New Jersey and the Raptors didn’t need him, especially with Nesterovic hitting 8 of 11 from the field.
His previous season-high was 12 points and he had that by halftime in helping Toronto build a 56-41 lead.