The Nets were able to steal Game 1 on the road thanks to nine key fourth-quarter points from The Truth. And as the final minutes of Game 2 unfolded, it looked like history might repeat itself.

With the clock ticking down under 30 seconds, Paul had another shot at a go-ahead three from the corner, but this one rimmed out.

After the defeat, he acknowledged that he had his opportunities late but also asserted that the Nets should’ve put themselves in better position for the win on the other side of the floor.

“I got some good looks. Sometimes they fall, sometimes they don’t,” Paul said. “But I think tonight, it really wasn’t about the offensive end putting ourselves in that position. We have to be better in the fourth quarter defensively. When you go on the road and try to steal two on the other team’s home court, you have to be better in the fourth quarter.”

Paul’s late-game assessment was spot on. In Game 1, the Nets held the Raptors under 50 percent shooting and to just 25 points—but in Game 2, Toronto hit 75 percent of its shots for 36 points.

“Tonight was our worst fourth-quarter defense in a long time,” No. 34 said. “When you allow 36 points, so many offensive rebounds, we have to do a better job of competing on the rebounds and giving ourselves a chance.”

When looking back on the loss, Paul identified one area where Brooklyn needed improvement: the defensive boards. Often fielding a small roster, the Nets are used to being outrebounded, but this time they yielded 19 offensive boards to Toronto, leaving a clear point of improvement going forward.

“We gave them everything they wanted, (50) points in the paint, and (19) offensive rebounds,” Pierce said. “We were a soft team tonight. That is where the game is won — in the trenches. We can’t give up (19) offensive rebounds.”

The Truth was limited to just 25 minutes on the floor due to early foul trouble, which was admittedly disrupted his rhythm. However, he was still able to come through with a couple of crucial plays in the fourth and six total points in the frame.

He knocked down a short jumper and added a game-tying free throw at the 3:48 mark. Then, with just a minute left, he drove hard to the hoop and completed another three-point play to put Brooklyn within two, 92-90.

The next possession brought No. 34’s chance at giving the Nets the lead, but his three from the left corner just barely missed its mark.

“We had them on the ropes. Definitely,” Paul said. “Foul trouble kind of threw me off, but the looks I got I was very satisfied with them. Some nights like I said, they fall. Some nights they don’t.”

NEXT UP

While the loss was disappointing for Pierce and Co., they can still head back home in relative happiness. The team did its job and captured one road win, successfully taking home-court advantage out of the hands of the Raptors.

Games 3 and 4 will in the Barclays Center—with Game 3 coming Friday and Game 4 tipping Sunday evening.

As Paul’s longtime teammate Kevin Garnett said, Toronto did its job and defended its home court Tuesday night. Now it’s the Nets’ turn to win in the building that has brought them 28 victories this season.

“They did what they’re supposed to do, defend home,” Garnett said. “It’s time for us to go home and do the same.”

Brooklyn will have its chance to do that 7 p.m. EDT Friday. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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