LIVEBLOG: NETS-RAPTORS, GAME 1 (SECOND HALF)

(See first-half notes.)

Quick halftime banalysis, with New Jersey ahead 10 points, 51-41. By the way, did you hear Bill Russell's interview where he said Game 1 is the least important game in the series? Good Lord, we hope so.

NETS: Their interior defence has been better than advertised -- quicker help, better at closing the lane. The Raptors have got almost nothing inside from their frontcourt players -- Bosh's three baskets were all mid-range, spot-up shots. Oh, and the more veteran team having the advantage in fastbreak points, what's up with that?

RAPTORS: It could be worse, it could be worse... Chris Bosh and Anthony Parker have been held to a combined eight points by foul trouble (Bosh), neglect from his point guard (Parker, thanks to Me-Jay), and good defence. The Raptors started to get some more hustle plays toward the end of the second quarter, but the shots haven't been falling.

THIRD QUARTER

11:31: Nice start to the quarter for Toronto -- Rasho Nestorovic gets a third-chance hook shot to drop, then follows with a block at the other end (and the Raptors keep possession after New Jersey won the ensuing jump ball). Was that Vince Carter settling for a jumper with T.J. Ford -- who's six inches shorter -- guarding him? Yes, it was.

9:43: Carter picks up his third -- can you believe it took 26 minutes for Bosh to get to the foul line. Nets lead 51-47.

9:33: Gee, we're thinking Vince Carter wants no part of this game. He just picked up fouls 10 seconds apart (the second, an illegal screen, was kind of dodgy), and will sit with four. Kidd tried to draw him out there, but he missed three straight shots and is 3-for-12. Nets lead 51-50 after T.J. Ford three.

7:03: Fiddle-dee-dee -- the Nets play better without No. 15, taking the lead back up to nine, 61-52, while Wince sits down. Joey Graham just fouled Richard Jefferson on a layup, almost as if to remind people that yes, he is playing today. Jefferson's at 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

6:00. Yes, the officiating hasn't been too hot today. Nets lead 61-52. Points in the paint: 38-14 for New Jersey, and there haven't been a lot of free throws. How is it only a nine-point game?

4:12: When even Chuck Swirsky calling out a guy for not D'ing up, you know Joey Graham is getting lit up. The points inside still aren't coming, but Anthony Parker just made his first three of the game -- and just the team's third -- to cut the lead to 65-57.

3:00-ish: This is Jason Kidd's game, pretty much -- he just answered Parker's triple to take the lead back up to 11, and he is not a shooter.

End of third, Nets lead 78-65: The TSN announcers are playing up T.J. Ford's effort -- he's scored 21 points on 8-of-13 shooting -- but the feeling is that he was too shoot-first early on and didn't get the rest of the team involved early on, especially Anthony Parker and Joey Graham.

8:53, 80-70 Nets: Nothing seems to be able to light a fire under Toronto today -- the Nets have just been better, it's not a question of being too tight, or overly focussed on Vince Carter (who's 4-for-15 for nine points, with no trips to the foul line). Anthony Parker just made a three from the right wing to cut it to 10, so there is still a hope if they can get within five points by the four- or five-minute mark.

5:55, 81-77: The patient might make it, doctor: With Kidd resting, the Raptors have made a run, led by Jose Calderon and Kris Humphries. The Raptors have scored seven points in a row since Michelle Carter was interviewed on the sidelines and said of the Vince-venom, "A lot of that is love because they didn't want him to leave." Aren't mothers great?

4:15, 83-82: Calderon hits a three -- Kidd is back on the floor and that means New Jersey has a good chance to hang on. On the next trip down, Jose makes another basket. This guy is so good with bounce passes and getting deflections. Jose Calderon might be one of the NBA's best players below the waist. Man, that totally came out wrong.

2:35ish, 87-83. Arrrggggh. Bosh misses a freebie to tie the game, and on the ensuing trip the Nets get a big three from Nachbar to stretch the lead to four. Is New Jersey going to win this game with three baskets in the fourth quarter? Carter had a good take to stretch the lead to six. He's 5-for-19, but he took it.

1:18, 92-88: Bosh hits a pair of free throws, followed by a three-point play. Maybe...

:15.3, 94-88: Nope! The Nets get a stop, and at the other end, Mikki Moore rips down an offensive rebound, and the Raptors have to foul. He makes both -- ball game.

:10.9, 95-91: Well, look who's at the line for the Nets to hit the clinching free throws after an Anthony Parker triple -- and Vince Carter only makes 1-of-2.

Final, New Jersey wins 96-91: Well, we found out the Nets might have more depth than the Raptors.