[Basketball News]

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., May 4 (AP) -- Richard Jefferson's ankle injury was one of the many reasons the New Jersey Nets underachieved this season.

Watching Jefferson rise for the go-ahead basket and leap for the clinching steal was a reminder that he's healthy - and the Nets look pretty good, too.

Jefferson made a layup with 8.3 seconds left, stole a pass on the next possession, and New Jersey beat the Toronto Raptors 98-97 Friday night to win the first-round series 4-2.

The Nets won 10 of 13 down the stretch, knocked off the Atlantic Division champions and head to Cleveland to face LeBron James and the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals starting Sunday.

And New Jersey, in the second round for the fifth time in six years, believes it is much better than the average No. 6 seed.

"We're just a confident group,'' Jefferson said. "I wouldn't say that we felt we're as good as anybody, we just feel that if we're healthy, we can compete with anyone. That's not saying we can beat anyone, I said we can compete with anyone. That means if we do the things that we need to do, if we execute the way we execute and stay healthy, our record shows where we are and where our place is.''

Nets Edge Raptors, Advance to Second Round

[Lefty Noob]

So how do you like the Nets chances against the Cavaliers?

[raptorcox]

Congrats to Nets fans.. my Raptors were very over-rated. Anyway, I think the Nets could push Cavs to the limit

[ThePundit]

Even though I'm a day late and the Cavs already won, I was going to pick them anyhow. Kidd looked really tired yesterday. Cavs in 7 games.