Brooklyn Nets stuck as 4 seed after loss to Raptors

The Nets dug themselves into too deep a hole in Toronto Sunday as the Raptors held on for a 93-87 victory at Air Canada Centre behind DeMar DeRozan’s 36 points.

The Raptors, who never trailed in the game, led by 19 points at halftime. But the Nets clawed their way back and trimmed the lead to two points with less than 5 minutes to go in the game. But Rudy Gay completed a three-point play to give Toronto breathing room.

The loss was a missed opportunity for the Nets to possibly take the No. 3 seed from Indiana.

The Nets are in line to face the Hawks in the first round, but the Bulls could move up to the No. 5 spot.

If the Nets had been able to score the No. 3 seed, it would have made a second-round matchup against the Knicks a possibility. Now, they would likely face the Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Point guard Deron Williams scored 30 points and shot 4 for 10 from 3-point range for the Nets.