• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Raptors aim to bounce back vs. Nets

Apr 5, 2008 - 3:17 PM Toronto (38-38) at New Jersey (31-45) 7:30 pm EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The Toronto Raptors are looking to get back on track when they pay a visit to the slumping New Jersey Nets.

Despite dropping a 105-100 decision to the Charlotte Bobcats at home on Friday, Toronto still managed to earn its second straight postseason berth under coach Sam Mitchell.

Chris Bosh and Rasho Nesterovic both had 25 points in the loss for the Raptors, who have just six wins over their past 19 games and are one game behind Washington (39-37) for sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

"We just got to be more focused down the stretch, and we just got to find a way to get a win," Toronto guard T.J. Ford said.

While Toronto prepares for another playoff run, New Jersey continues to stumble down the stretch as its postseason hopes slowly fade away.

With Vince Carter sidelined due to a sore right ankle, the Nets came out on the short end of things with Friday's 106-87 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

"We just need to keep fighting and playing hard without him," said Nets forward Richard Jefferson, who scored 15 points. "We didn't get to this point by saying, 'you can't do that'. You just need to keep playing hard and keep hoping for the best."

The loss pushed New Jersey four games behind Atlanta (35-41) for the eighth and final spot in the East with just six games left on the season.

Bosh carried the load with 27 points in helping the Raptors earn a 109-91 victory in the last matchup against the Nets on February 13.