21 Apr 2014

Nets dump Raptors in NBA playoff opener

6:31 am on 21 April 2014

Paul Pierce found his form in the final minutes, sparking the Brooklyn Nets to a 94-87 win over the Toronto Raptors in the opening game of their NBA basketball first-round playoff series.

Pierce scored nine of his 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Nets took a road win to launch the best-of-seven Eastern Conference matchup.

Kevin Garnett, who won an NBA crown with Pierce in Boston and joined him in being traded to Brooklyn, scored his first basket of the game with 3:38 remaining to give the Nets a 79-76 lead.

Pierce followed with a three-pointer and the 36-year-old playmaker added a layup and a pair of jumpers, scoring nine Nets points in a row as part of a game-ending 19-11 run for the triumph.