Raptors outlast Nets, to tie NBA playoff series 2-2

The Toronto Raptors snatched a crucial win on the road as they beat the Brooklyn Nets 87-79 in Game 4 of the first round series of the NBA playoffs here.

The best-of-seven series is tied 2-2 with Game 5 to be held in Raptors' homecourt, reports Xinhua.

DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry had 24 and 22 points apiece for the Raptors, who almost squandered a 17-point lead Sunday night.

Amir Johnson, who scored 11 out of 17 points in the first quarter, gave the Raptors a 35-22 lead in the beginning.

The Nets managed to usurp the lead for the first time in the game at the start of the third quarter, when they kicked off a 8-0 run to make it 52-51.

The game hung in the balance after that and both teams shot badly to tie 67-all at the end of the third quarter.

The Nets had their last lead on 77-73 with almost six minutes to go in the fourth quarter, but failed to make one field shot in the last half quarter.

Kevin Garnett scored the only two points from free-throws for the Nets during that period when the Raptors ran away by 14-2 to close the win.

Paul Pierce had 22 points but Joe Johnson, who had 29 points in Game 3, was held to seven points Sunday.