Nets silence Raptors, claim Game 1 with 94-87 triumph

On the strength of Deron Williams' game-high 24 points, the Brooklyn Nets claimed the first victory of the 2014 NBA Playoffs, beating the Toronto Raptors 94-87 on Saturday afternoon. 

The Nets sullied the party, disappointing the best crowd Toronto has seen in 19 years of professional basketball. With Drake headlining those in paid seats, thousands of others flooded the outside of the Air Canada Centre, providing ample support. They were loud, brash, and serenaded Kevin Garnett from the game's outset before he and fellow veteran Paul Pierce silenced the support late in the fourth quarter. 

Pierce provided the dagger, or four, scoring nine points of his 15 points in the last three minutes to push the Nets' lead to seven. After the game, he even staged a competition with some fans.

In hosting its first playoff game in six seasons, Toronto's start was predictably jittery. Brooklyn leaned on Williams' hot hand to quickly run out to a double-digit advantage, forcing the Raptors into playing from behind.

What wasn't anticipated (aside from Toronto GM Masai Ujiri's pre-game antics) was DeMar DeRozan's struggles; the Raptors' leading-scorer this season was 3-of-13 from the floor in his first-career playoff appearance, finishing with 14 points. 

Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas recorded a double-double in his first playoff game, setting a franchise record with 18 rebounds, and chipping in with 17 points. 

Toronto will host Game 2 on Tuesday.