Nets hold off Toronto to win playoff opener

Vince Carter was ineffective from the field in his first playoff game as an opponent at his former home, making only 5-of-19 shots and finishing with 16 points. Jason Kidd contributed eight points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds in the victory.

Chris Bosh, saddled with foul trouble for most of the first half, scored 22 points for Toronto, which won the Atlantic for its first-ever division title and earned the third seed in the playoffs.

T.J. Ford added 21 points and Anthony Parker chipped in 16 for the Raptors, who will try to even the best-of-seven series in Game 2 on Tuesday in Toronto.

The Nets blew most a 15-point lead and held a tenuous 84-83 edge with just over 2 1/2 minutes to play when Nachbar drilled a three-pointer from the left corner. It was just the second basket for the Nets in the fourth quarter.

Carter then hit one free throw and Nachbar made two to extend the New Jersey lead to seven.

A few moments later, Toronto pulled within four on a three-point play by Bosh with 1:15 left and had a chance to draw closer with 40 seconds to play, but Bosh missed a baseline jumper.

Kidd missed a three-pointer for New Jersey, but Mikki Moore grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. He made both free throws for a 94-88 lead with 15.3 seconds to play.

Parker drilled a long three for the Raptors after a timeout, but Carter sank one free throw and Kidd hit another in the closing seconds to seal it.