THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - Jose Calderon had 17 points and 11 assists and the Toronto Raptors won beat the New Jersey Nets 107-106 on Wednesday night for their first three-game winning streak since the start of the season.
Devin Harris had a chance to steal the game for the Nets in the closing seconds, but his step-back jumper from the right edge of the foul line hit off the rim at the buzzer.
Anthony Parker added 21 points, and Chris Bosh had 18 for the Raptors, who shot almost 56 per cent and had six players in double figures. Andrea Bargnani had his streak of 15 straight games of at least 15 points stopped, scoring eight.
Vince Carter had 27 points to lead the Nets, who rallied in the final minutes by hitting four of their 15 three-pointers. Harris added 25 points and 10 assists, but he missed the biggest shot of the night after Calderon had left the door open by missing a jumper with about 21 seconds to play.
Toronto, which opened the season with three straight wins and then floundered, appeared to take control late in the fourth quarter when Joey Graham converted a three-point play for a 102-90 lead with 4:47 to go.
Bobby Simmons, who added 16 points, then hit two three-pointers in an 11-2 spurt to bring New Jersey within 104-101.
Bosh's two free throws with 2:17 to play pushed the edge back to five points, but Parker only made one of two free throws and Carter nailed a three-pointer to close the gap to 107-104 with 1:05 to go.
Bosh drove the baseline and appeared to be fouled on a layup attempt but nothing was called.
After a time out, Harris drove the left side of the lane for a layup to get New Jersey within a point.
After Calderon missed, Harris took the ball upcourt, worked his way for an open shot and simply missed it, putting his hands to his head in disbelief at the buzzer.
Graham added 15 points for the Raptors and Jason Kapono and Jamorio Moon had 10 apiece.
Keyon Dooling had 17 points and Brook Lopez 14 for New Jersey.
Despite shooting 61 per cent from the field in the first half, the Raptors trailed 54-50. The difference for the Nets was eight three-pointers, including four by Carter in the opening four minutes, and 12 second-chances points.
Notes:@ Lopez was selected to play on the rookie team in the Rookie Challenge on Feb. 13 during the all-star weekend in Phoenix. ... New Jersey lost a three-pointer by Dooling at the end of the first quarter on a review. The shot beat the game clock, but it failed to beat the 24-second clock. ... The teams have split four games this season, each winning two on the other's home court.
