Nets hope to take 3-1 lead over Raptors

This is a best-of-seven series. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday at Air Canada Centre.

After splitting the first two games of the series in Toronto, the Nets took a 2-1 lead at the Meadowlands. On Friday, Jason Kidd, playing despite a knee injury, had a triple-double with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 19 assists to lead New Jersey to a 102-89 victory over the Raptors at Continental Airlines Arena.

Vince Carter ended with 37 points on 15-of-23 from the field for New Jersey, while Richard Jefferson contributed 18 points in the victory.

T.J. Ford scored 27 in Game 3’s loss for the Raptors, while Anthony Parker netted 14 and Chris Bosh collected 11 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.

Kidd, who suffered a strained left knee in Game 2, is averaging an impressive 12.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 13.7 assists in the series for New Jersey.

Toronto is 2-1 all-time in Game 4s in the playoffs, while the Nets have won six of their last eight Game 4s. The Raptors are 3-10 on the road in the postseason.

The Raptors have returned to the playoffs after ending a four-year postseason drought. They captured their first division title in franchise history after winning the Atlantic, and are in the postseason for the fourth time. Head coach Sam Mitchell, who was named NBA Coach of the Year, did a fantastic job during the regular season, guiding the squad to a 47-35 record to match the best finish in team history.

The Nets are in the playoffs for a team-best sixth consecutive season. New Jersey defeated Indiana in six games in the last year’s opening round before bowing out in five games against the eventual NBA champion Miami Heat in the conference semifinals.