Nets beat Raptors 97-83 to force Game 7

5/2/2014
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams scored 23 points, shaking off a second-half injury
Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams scored 23 points, shaking off a second-half injury

NEW YORK — Deron Williams scored 23 points, shaking off a second-half injury, and the Brooklyn Nets forced a seventh game in their first-round series by beating the Toronto Raptors 97-83 tonight.

Despite appearing to hurt his left foot or ankle early in the third quarter, Williams dominated his matchup with Kyle Lowry and helped the Nets put it away with a 3-pointer with 1:13 left that made it 92-79.

Game 7 is Sunday in Toronto, with the winner advancing to face the defending champion Miami Heat.

It became the fourth first-round series ticketed for a do-or-die game in these playoffs.

DeMar DeRozan scored 28 for the Raptors, who will have to go the distance if they are to win a seven-game series for the first time in franchise history. They haven’t won any postseason series since 2001.