NBA Playoffs: Nets Eliminate Raptors

The Nets visit the Cavaliers on Sunday.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Richard Jefferson's key plays on both ends of the floor in the closing seconds helped New Jersey avoid a trip to Toronto for Game 7 and advance to the second round, where it will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in a best-of-seven series.

Jefferson made the go-ahead basket with 8.3 seconds left and stole Jose Calderon's entry pass to Chris Bosh in the post with 1.9 remaining in regulation to lift the Nets to a 98-97 home win over the Raptors on Friday.

Jefferson scored a game-high 24 points, while Jason Kidd finished two rebounds shy of a triple-double with 18 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds. Kidd averaged a triple-double in a series for the second time in his career. Vince Carter added 21 points.

Chris Bosh led Toronto with 23 points, a career-high nine assists and seven rebounds, and T.J. Ford, playing through a neck injury, scored 19 points.

The Nets visit the Cavaliers on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET on ABC.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports