NBA

Williams, Johnson vanish in Nets’ defeat

Between them, they have 10 All-Star Game appearances and millions upon millions of dollars in salary. They’re one of the top backcourts in the NBA, based on pedigree and production.

But Sunday night, they didn’t look the part.

The Nets’ superstar backcourt no-showed in Game 4, a possible turning point in their best-of-seven, opening-round playoff series against the Raptors.

Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, so good in the Nets’ Game 3 win — when the duo tallied 51 points and 10 assists — combined for just 17 points on 6-of-19 shooting as the Raptors evened the series at two games apiece with an 87-79 victory at Barclays Center Sunday night.

Williams, who committed more turnovers (five) than he made field goals made (four), blamed himself afterward.

“It’s on me,” Williams said. “I just got to play better.

“I was aggressive to start the game and then we were making our run. I was drawing and kicking, making the right play, and we got back into the game, and I think that took away from my aggressiveness a little bit.”

Johnson said Toronto’s frequent double- and triple-teams are why he only attempted seven shots. The Nets’ 16 turnovers — seven combined by Johnson and Williams — didn’t help either. Neither guard was very good in the fateful final quarter, when the Nets blew a four-point lead and were outscored, 20-12. They combined to commit three turnovers and miss three shots, all by Williams.

“We’re doing what we can,” Johnson said. “They’re double, tripling [us]. There’s not too much else I can do.”

Johnson, who came in averaging 23.6 points per game in the series, managed just seven points, his lowest output since scoring seven against the Bucks on March 1, a span of 29 games.

“Their defense was a big difference tonight,” Johnson said. “I looked up once and there were three guys coming at me. I just tried to make the right play. They were forcing other guys to make plays. Down the stretch, we couldn’t come up with a big play.”

Williams didn’t feel as if the Raptors changed much on their end defensively, but planned to watch film closely before Game 5 in Toronto.

“I know I got to be more aggressive,” Williams said. “I think Joe is thinking the same thing. The last three quarters, I really wasn’t a factor, and so that’s a big part of it.

“We got to do the same things and knock down some shots for Joe, and then they can’t help.”