STOP RIGHT THERE: Nets Keith Bogans and Mirza Teletovic converge on Toronto’s Aaron Gray during the Nets’ 94-88 win last night, snapping a five-game losing streak. (Reuters)
STOP RIGHT THERE: Nets Keith Bogans and Mirza Teletovic converge on Toronto’s Aaron Gray during the Nets’ 94-88 win last night, snapping a five-game losing streak. (Reuters)
TORONTO — Even what should be a guaranteed win is a struggle right now for the Nets.
The Raptors, a hapless 4-18 outfit missing two starters and dressing just nine players, should have been the perfect antidote for a Nets team hoping to snap out of a five-game losing streak.
Instead, a woeful performance in the first half left the game in doubt until the fourth quarter, when the Nets finally pulled away and emerged with a desperately needed 94-88 victory over Toronto in front of 18,847 inside Air Canada Centre.
“We talked about it after we lost [to the Knicks],” said Deron Williams, who finished with 12 points and four assists. “We needed a win. We couldn’t come here without a win, so it was good we got it.”
The Nets (12-9) got that win thanks to big performances from Joe Johnson and C.J. Watson in the second half. Johnson scored 19 of his team-high 23 points in the second half, including a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2:29 left in the third to give the Nets their first lead since the game’s early moments.
From there, the combination of Johnson and Watson, who each went 4-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc in the second half, helped the Nets complete a 40-15 run from the 8:41 mark of the third quarter until the 7:42 in the fourth that finally put the game out of reach.
“We needed a spark in the second half,” said Johnson, who shot 7-for-14 from the field. “It seemed as though, in the first half, we didn’t have any energy.
“It’s amazing what a couple shots will do. You down a couple shots, and everybody’s intensity picks up, and it just starts to affect everybody else, and we went on a run in that third quarter and never really looked back.”
Despite the impressive second half for the Nets, there was no reason the game should have ever been that close. The Raptors, missing starting point guard Kyle Lowry and starting point guard power forward Andrea Bargnani, were forced to recall rookie Quincy Acy from the D-League just so they would have nine active players on their bench.
But rather than coming out and taking the game to the Raptors from the opening tip, the Nets instead looked like they were sleepwalking throughout the first half. No better example of this came at one point when after a timeout, Joe Johnson walked to the bench — thinking he had been subbed out — only for coach Avery Johnson to yell at his All-Star shooting guard, “What are you doing?”
“We had the weight of the world on us,” the coach said. “We had to break a losing streak, playing against a team that was depleted. … Let’s face it, they were out there playing free and easy, and we weren’t going to have any excuses if we lost this game.
“So yeah, our guys were under immense pressure, and I’m glad that they responded.”
While the Nets shot 13-for-36 from the field, including going 1-for-8 from 3-point range, and committed 11 turnovers in the first half, the Raptors gladly took advantage. They were fueled by the inside duo of Ed Davis, who had a game-high 24 points on 11-for-13 shooting, and Jonas Valanciunas, who finished with 15 on a perfect 6-for-6 from the floor.
The two big men each scored 13 points in the first half and helped power the Raptors to a 45-37 lead at the break before the Nets were finally able to right themselves.
“It wasn’t pretty at all, but I’ll take it,” said Andray Blatche, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. “It was a dogfight, ugly win, and I’ll take it.
“We needed it, and I’m happy we got it.”
tbontemps@nypost.com