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Nets escape Toronto with second win

Jan 7, 2012 - 4:18 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Deron Williams scored a season-high 24 points and dished out nine assists to lead the Nets to a 97-85 win over the Raptors on Friday.

Anthony Morrow also scored 24 and DeShawn Stevenson chipped in with 15 points after knocking down five threes for New Jersey, which picked up its second win of the season.

"In the beginning of the season we as a coaching staff thought we would be a much better three-point shooting team than last year," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. "But we knew as soon as our guys got their game legs they would be there. The star of the game was Stevenson the defense he played on [DeMar] DeRozan was incredible."

Jose Calderon dropped in 19 points and had eight assists and Andrea Bargnani scored 17 for Toronto, which had a two-game winning streak snapped.

"This season is such a different season," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "You throw all the conventional wisdom out the window and prepare as you go."

After a close first quarter, the Nets were able to pull ahead by eight by halftime. Toronto held a 35-31 lead with 5:23 remaining in the half before New Jersey used a 13-0 run to go up by nine. But a Rasual Butler three and a slick Ed Davis reverse layup pulled the Raptors within six before Williams stretched it 48-40 with a layup at the end of the half.

Toronto pulled within one possession early in the third but a 13-6 burst from the Nets to close the quarter made it 75-64.

The Nets went up 18 when Morrow buried a three just under three minutes into the in the final stanza. The Raptors were able to close the gap to 13 after Calderon knocked down a pair of free throws with six minutes left, but the Nets were able to hold off any attempt at a Toronto comeback to lock up a win.

"Wow, a win," Stevenson said. "I think a practice helped. We got to work on some things. We haven't had a chance to work on things with so many games."

The Nets practiced Thursday for the first time since December 24.

Game Notes

The Nets won for the first time in Toronto in five tries...New Jersey held a lead entering the fourth quarter for the first time all season...Morrow and Stevenson both posted season-high scoring totals...New Jersey's MarShon Brooks did not dress due to a sprained ankle...Toronto's Jerryd Bayless did not dress due to a sprained ankle.