New Jersey Nets Team Report - November 23

(Basketball News) - New Jersey lost on Saturday to Toronto when Morris Peterson’s free throw with 8/10ths of a second remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Raptors past the Nets, 81-80, at Continental Airlines Arena.

Kenyon Martin paced New Jersey with 26 points and seven rebounds. Alonzo Mourning contributed 15 points for the Nets, who have dropped two in a row.

New Jersey played without guard Jason Kidd, who is bothered a sore knee. Kidd underwent an MRI exam earlier this week and the results were negative. By sitting Saturday, Kidd will have a week between games. The Nets last played on Tuesday against New Orleans and won’t play again until the start of a five- game western trip next Tuesday at Seattle.

Lamond Murray’s jumper with 9 1/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter staked Toronto to a 74-60 advantage.

The Nets then stormed back and evened the contest at 76-76 with 1:59 remaining. Martin had eight points and Mourning added five during the 16-2 burst.

The Raptors went a stretch of 5 1/2 minutes without a point, before Vince Carter nailed a jumper from the corner with 58 seconds left to give Toronto a 78-76 lead.

Kerry Kittles then tied the contest for New Jersey with a bucket, but Carter answered to again put the Raptors ahead by two at 80-78.

On New Jersey’s next possession, Martin missed a shot, but the Nets got the offensive rebound. Kittles then sank a jumper to knot the score at 80-80 with 14.1 seconds remaining.

Carter was then tied up by Martin for a jump ball with three seconds left. On the tap, Peterson picked up the loose ball and was fouled by Kittles in the act of shooting with 8/10ths of a second left.

Peterson hit the first free throw, but missed the second attempt. New Jersey was left with only 5/10ths of a second and was unable to get off a shot following a timeout.