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Nets looking to stay alive in playoff race vs. Raptors

Apr 11, 2008 - 3:03 PM New Jersey (32-46) at Toronto (39-39) 7:00 pm EDT

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets' slim playoff hopes hang in the balance when they visit the Toronto Raptors on Friday.

The Nets (32-46) enter Friday's contest four games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the eighth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. However, with only four games remaining for both teams, a loss by New Jersey or a win by Atlanta over the New York Knicks on Friday will eliminate the Nets from playoff contention.

New Jersey, which hasn't missed the playoffs since the 2000-01 campaign, hasn't helped its playoff chances recently, dropping five of its last six games, including a 104-83 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Vince Carter had 19 points and six rebounds to lead the Nets, but had his streak of 12 consecutive games with at least 20 points snapped.

Carter looks to bounce back on Friday against the team with which he spent his first six seasons in the NBA. The 31-year-old guard has combined to score just 44 points in his last three road games against the Raptors - all losses.

Toronto (39-39) has already clinched a playoff spot and enters the game in seventh place in the East, three games ahead of the Hawks.

The Raptors snapped a three-game losing streak on Wednesday, claiming a 111-93 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.