EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., April 29 (UPI) -- Vince Carter scored 27 points Sunday night as the New Jersey Nets beat Toronto, 102-81, to take a 3-1 lead in their Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
New Jersey raced to a 56-37 lead at the break behind Carter's 21-points first half.
The lead ballooned to 86-56 entering the fourth quarter, with Richard Jefferson scoring 16 of New Jersey's 30 points in the third.
Jefferson finished with 23 points and three rebounds. Jason Kidd had 17 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds; and Carter had seven rebounds and seven assists for the Raptors -- who can close the series with a win in Game 5 Tuesday night.
Andrea Bargnani led Toronto with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. Chris Bosh had 13 points and 10 rebounds; and T.J. Ford added 13 points, five assists and three steals for the Raptors -- who have lost the last two games by substantial margins.
