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Toronto • DeMar DeRozan put his playoff jitters aside and turned in an All-Star performance for the Toronto Raptors.
DeRozan scored 30 points, Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and 14 rebounds and the Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 100-95 on Tuesday night, evening their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.
A first-time All-Star this season, DeRozan struggled in his postseason debut on Saturday. He went 3 for 13 from the field and scored 14 points in Toronto's 94-87 loss.
On Tuesday, DeRozan eclipsed that total in the fourth quarter alone, scoring 17 of Toronto's 36 points.
"We knew he was going to bounce back from the first game," Brooklyn's Deron Williams said. "He took over the game, hit some crucial shots, some tough shots. We've got to do a better job of stopping him, especially late."
DeRozan made nine of 21 shots and went 12 for 14 at the free-throw line, hitting nine of 11 attempts in the final quarter.
"He bounced back, refocused," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "Making those free throws down the stretch was huge. For him to come through after a tough first game and everyone doubting him, I was really happy with that."
So was Raptors guard Kyle Lowry.
"Tonight he showed what he can do," Lowry said of DeRozan. "He did an unbelievable job of attacking, being aggressive."
Amir Johnson scored 16 points and Lowry had 14 for the Raptors, who outrebounded the Nets 52-30. It was Valanciunas' second straight double-double.
"There was no way we were going to lose that game," Amir Johnson said. "It was a must-win for us."
Raptors 100,Nets 95
Brooklyn 19 20 27 29 95
Toronto 21 24 19 36 100
BROOKLYN (95)
J.Johnson 7-13 3-3 18, Pierce 2-11 3-4 7, Garnett 5-6 3-4 13, Williams 5-15 3-3 15, Livingston 4-8 4-4 12, Teletovic 5-11 1-2 14, Plumlee 1-2 2-6 4, Anderson 1-2 0-0 3, Thornton 0-2 0-0 0, Kirilenko 2-3 0-0 4, Blatche 2-4 1-2 5.
Totals 34-77 20-28 95.
TORONTO (100)
Ross 1-8 0-0 2, A.Johnson 8-10 0-0 16, Valanciunas 5-9 5-7 15, Lowry 4-11 6-6 14, DeRozan 9-21 12-14 30, Vasquez 5-10 0-0 11, Fields 0-0 0-0 0, Patterson 5-9 1-2 12.
Totals 37-78 24-29 100.
3-Point GoalsBrooklyn 7-24 (Teletovic 3-6, Williams 2-6, Anderson 1-2, J.Johnson 1-4, Pierce 0-6), Toronto 2-16 (Patterson 1-3, Vasquez 1-4, DeRozan 0-2, Lowry 0-2, Ross 0-5). Fouled OutNone. ReboundsBrooklyn 39 (Plumlee, Pierce 6), Toronto 58 (Valanciunas 14). AssistsBrooklyn 19 (Livingston, Williams 5), Toronto 19 (Vasquez 8). Total FoulsBrooklyn 26, Toronto 21. TechnicalsGarnett, Brooklyn defensive three second 2, Lowry, Toronto defensive three second. A20,382 (19,800). Playoffs glance
First round
Best of seven
Tuesday
• Indiana 101, Atlanta 85
Series tied 1-1
• Toronto 100,New Jersey 95
Series tied 1-1
• Washington 101,Chicago 99 (OT)
Wizards lead series 2-0
Wednesday
• Charlotte at Miami,5 p.m., TNT
Heat lead series 1-0
• Dallas at San Antonio,6 p.m, NBA TV
Spurs lead series 1-0
• Portland at Houston,7:30 p.m., TNT
Blazers lead series 1-0