Nets claim opener from Raptors as Deron Williams scores 24

TORONTO -- The Brooklyn Nets made a case for the important of playoff experience in their opening victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Deron Williams and Joe Johnson each had 24 points, Paul Pierce scored nine of his 15 points in the final quarter and the Nets beat the Raptors 94-87 Saturday in Game 1 of their first-round series.

Playing in his 137th career postseason game, Pierce connected on four of his five shot attempts in the fourth as the Nets kept the Raptors at bay.



The painful "Truth" for Toronto is that its inexperience and Brooklyn's vast wealth of experience decided Game 1, Ohm Youngmisuk writes. Blog



"You just get that feeling, you've been in those situations a number of times," Pierce said. "I don't get rattled in the fourth quarter, down the stretch or in playoff settings. I've been in pretty much every playoff setting that you can imagine. I just try to stay calm and bring my calmness to the game."

Nets coach Jason Kidd said Williams "set the tone" by scoring 18 points in the first half.

"He came out with high energy," Kidd said. "I thought he was looking to be aggressive in scoring the ball. He got the guys off to a good start."