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 The victory was the Raptors' first in the post-season since 2008
and sends the best-of-seven Eastern conference first round series
back to Brooklyn for Game Three on Friday level at 1-1.
"It (the win) gave us some confidence with everyone doubting us; can
they win a playoff game, can they compete against a team like
Brooklyn?," Toronto coach Dwane Casey told reporters.
"We are the underdog. The way our guys competed and fought tonight I
was proud.
"But now the series starts, we have to go to their place and compete
the same way.
"We're going to be the underdog again and we have to do the same
thing there."
The series is clearly defined, a classic matchup pitting Brooklyn's
veteran savvy against the young Raptors enthusiasm.
The Nets won Game One when future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce and
Kevin Garnett stepped up late in the match but on Tuesday the
Raptors' young guard DeMar DeRozan showed the way with 30 points,
including 17 in the fourth quarter.
"The first game we played bad and now we know what we need to do to
win," said DeRozan, who struggled getting his shots in Game One and
was limited to 14 points.
"I just tried to come through for my team when they needed me,
particularly in the fourth quarter.
"It's not going to be a cakewalk and we understand that.
"People who count us out, we don't pay attention to that, we
understand we can beat this team each time we go out there and play
and that's what we're going to try to do."
After being fined $25,000 for his expletive laced welcome to the
Nets at a pre-game rally outside the Air Canada Centre on Saturday,
Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri had no need to ramp up an
already supercharged crowd on Tuesday.
Ujiri had left it to the local media to whip Toronto sports fans
into a froth with talk of a lack of respect and conspiracy theories
the league was doing its best behind the scenes to ensure a ratings
grabbing Brooklyn-Miami Heat second round matchup.
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Raptors players
and coaching staff avoided any suggestion of league skullduggery but
the underdog mentality hung over the arena.
The Raptors displayed plenty of playoff jitters in Game One and
still appeared a little nervous again on Tuesday as the Nets raced
in front 8-1.
By the end of the first quarter the Raptors had taken control of
their nerves and a 21-19 lead which they extended in the second
taking a 45-39 advantage into halftime.
The Nets battled back to pull in front 66-64 after three quarters
but could not fend off a determined Raptors fight back as DeRozan
dropped back-to-back jump shots with less than three minutes to play
to put Toronto ahead 89-85.
The All-Star guard then went six-for-six from the foul line to help
clinch the win.
"I thought DeMar DeRozan tonight refocused, he got five fouls and
that shook him a little bit but he bounced back, refocused," said
Casey.
"Making those free throws down the stretch was huge, for him to
come through after a tough first game, everyone doubting him.
"I was really happy with that."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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