TORONTO - As over 20,000 shell-shocked Raptors fans finally exhaled, juggling their emotions after a bizarre evening at the Air Canada Centre, Dwane Casey laced into his team in a nearby locker room. Fernando Rodney Nationals Jersey . His post-game pep talk will "remain in-house", which usually means it was R-rated in nature. Did this feel like a win, Amir Johnson was asked after it was all said and done. "Of course," he exclaimed, taking issue with the question. "What? Yes! Did I check the box score wrong? We definitely won." "Does it feel like a win? What?" The box score read 115-113, a pivotal win for the Raptors, who took a 3-2 series lead Wednesday and now sit on the cusp of advancing to the Conference Semifinals, but you wouldnt know if from taking in the head coachs post-game discourse. "You wouldnt want to hear it," Casey said, asked about his emotions as his team squandered a 26-point lead in allowing the Nets to score 44 during a fourth-quarter collapse that was very nearly fatal. "We just didnt play smart. They are a very veteran team, they are going to take advantage of the mistakes you make. We wrote the book on the mistakes in the fourth quarter." "Every mistake that you could think about, we made in the fourth quarter." Just about. The Raptors lead was 22 going into the final frame before their previously spotless performance began to unravel in a hurry. With a lineup of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and reserves Andray Blatche, Mirza Teletovic and Alan Anderson for all but eight seconds in the quarter, the Nets hit 13 of their 21 shots, including five of nine attempts from three-point range. They got into the paint and to the line at will, putting on a clinic offensively. Veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett did not play a second. With just over three minutes remaining, Torontos nightmare became reality. The sellout crowd that had rocked the building all night, the mob of white-shirted Raptor zealots that shouted "Broooook-lyn" minutes earlier - mimicking a chant made famous at Nets home games - they went dead silent. The Nets Johnson drained a three to tie the game and Toronto was on the ropes. Visions of their franchise-worst 27-point collapse in a December loss to Golden State flashed through everyones mind. Infamous Raptors losses of the oh-so-painful past, the beloved Maple Leafs and their tragic Game 7 demise. The city has seen it all. So how would this team let them down? Toronto led by five with nine seconds left, a semi-comfortable scenario provided they refrain from doing something uncommonly foolish. Just dont give up a three or commit a foul. Naturally, they did both. As Williams swung the ball to Anderson in the corner, the Raptors Johnson lunged at him, committing his sixth foul and surrendering the rare four-point play, Brooklyns second of the quarter. With six second to go, the Raptors now up by three, Casey opted to play it safe and send Blatche to the line for two shots. The right call. Intentionally missing the second free throw, Blatche was able to secure his own rebound before letting the Raptors off the hook in tossing the ball away. "We cant live that way," said an irate Casey after the game. "We cant make this many mental mistakes." Buzzer sounds and the Raptors win. The Raptors win? They had mucked it up in just about every way you could imagine, like a greatest hits of Raptor blunders, but they pulled it out. If that seems out of character with what weve come to expect from this franchise, so be it. Isnt that just the perfect representation of a season, an improbably playoff run that defies all semblance of logic? "We made some boneheaded mistakes," Johnson admitted, "but we finished off the game and thats all that really matters." This is a different team producing different results and a point guard who has a lot to do with that change in fortune. "Honestly, hes a hell of player, man," DeMar DeRozan said of Kyle Lowry, who scored 36 points, a playoff career-high, also matching the most hes ever scored in an NBA game. "Hes just a dog. He makes you want to bring your A-game every single night because you know hes going to lay it out there with them." With DeRozan blanketed by multiple defenders all night, Lowry took over. Tied with a minute left, Lowry hit the biggest shot of the night, a step-back three-pointer, followed by another dagger from inside the paint on the subsequent possession. "Sometimes it calls for that situation," said the point guard. "Usually its [DeRozan] doing that but tonight the way they played him it gave me an opportunity to get to the basket and get some shots off down the stretch. Our teammates count on me and him to make the right decisions, make the big plays and tonight it was fortunate enough they were guarding him tightly and I got it going a little bit." Lowry wouldnt let his team lose, willing them to their most important victory of the campaign, and no one seems the least bit surprised, nor should they. "Every time hes out there on the floor Im going to give it my best effort," DeRozan added, "because I know hes going to do the same." "We know theres not going to be no big blowouts either way because both teams are going to fight until the end," he continued. "It just shows you how much weve matured over the season and understanding what we have to do to stay in games and closeout games." DeRozan became the first Raptors player to reach the 20-point plateau in four straight playoff games since Vince Carter in 2001, scoring 23 on Wednesday thanks in large part to another impressive showing from the free throw line, where he was 12-for-13. For the first time in nearly 13 years that Raptors have taken the advantage in a playoff series, now they look to close it out in Brooklyn on Friday. "Were happy we won today but weve got to do a better job Friday," said Jonas Valanciunas, who had 16 points and six rebounds Wednesday. "Were here, were excited about being in the playofffs, somewhere we havent been before, a young team, expecting mistakes," Casey said. "Weve got to crack the whip and learn from it. This is a hell of a time to start learning, going into Game 6 of the playoffs." Tres Barrera Nationals Jersey . - Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has signed with WME-IMG, saying the sports management powerhouse will help maximize the value of my brand. Austin Voth Jersey . Once again, the third baseman delivered in a big spot. Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. https://www.cheapnationals.com/ . - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come.MONTREAL - Some quotes about Jean Beliveau and his funeral in Montreal on Wednesday:It was grandiose. We had a whole week where we heard such great stories, from the fans, the media and old players. It ended here and it was a phenomenal service. — Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson. — — —Everybodys here out of respect to a wonderful man who meant so much, not just to the game of hockey, but to this province and this country. He was revered by everyone and he will be terribly missed. — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.— — —I dont think the people are paying respect to the hockey player or the 10 Stanley Cups. They are paying respect to the man who lived a life of no reproach. A lot of people say he lived a perfect life. The only perfect person that I thought existed was my wife. Now Im starting to think that this man was perfect. He was an idol. — former Canadiens coach Jacques Demers. — — —He was a man that made a big impression on my life. I met him a few times and its not something you will ever forget. — former Quebec premier Jean Charest.— — —It was extraordinary what the Canadiens did (to commemorate Jean) and it took a lot of pressure off the family. Jean for us was a model. He was someone we admired. He was a giant. What I took away from his life was that you always have to respect others, everyone is important, and what you do to others comes back to you. He is my definition of a captain. — Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. — — —Growing up, there was always talk of how classy (Jean) was. My father told me to make sure you shake everyones hand and talk just like Mr. Beliveau. He meant so much to my family. — former Los Angeles Kings winger Luc Robitaille.— — —He was a great Canadian and the word for him was respect, all his life. — former prime minister Jean Chretien.— — —Ive been in this city forr many many years and people always talk about the sports figures. Roenis Elias Jersey. And Jean Beliveaus name always came up. And I got a chance to meet him a few times in this city. People always talked very highly of him, so its just a matter of coming out here and showing some respect. — ex-Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo.— — —I think he touched so many people and what he did with the puck and how he conducted himself off the ice. Hes the greatest person to have ever played the game. And hes a legend. — Canadiens defenceman P.K. Subban.— — — This is a bigger deal than Montreal. Its not just Quebec, its not just Canada, this is worldwide. He touched everybody. Whether its hockey fans or just citizens he gave everyone the same amount of respect and I think thats why this is such an important day for everybody. — Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty.— — —Its been a tough week for everybody, but I think at the end of the day were all thankful that were here, being a part of this. Its an honour for all of us to be here. Its probably the most emotional day, and I think going forward we cant forget a day like this. — Pacioretty. — — —Im extremely proud to be a Hab right now, the way everything was handled by the organization and this city in general. Its really amazing to see one person really unify a whole city. — Canadiens goaltender Carey Price. — — —I feel really privileged to be a part of, and you just try to represent it the best you can. Mr. Beliveau did an unbelievable job of setting the stage for what it means to be a Montreal Canadien. He set the bar really high. He was an unbelievable example, and I think that was passed down from generation to generation. Now its up to us to make sure his message and his legacy gets passed on. — Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher. — — — ' ' '