With four games left of the season, the Raptors look to win their first game in the calendar month
The Toronto Raptors are on the road, going toe to toe with Brooklyn Nets for a matinee game. So far, the Raptors are 2-1 against the Nets, with this being their fourth and final matchup of the season. All but locked into seventh-best draft odds, we’ve reached the point in the season where the tanking conversation can end, and we can focus on some feel-good wins.
For Brooklyn, the season has shaped up to be what most expected. After being active in the trade market and re-tooling their roster, a cascade of injuries to their young talent wrote the rest of the season off. They have a bright future, with Cam Thomas, Cameron Johnson, and Nic Claxton all able to contribute to a winning team. Reality is that they’re likely still years away from that, though.
With both benches loaded with injuries, this will be another game that will utilize the both teams’ bench and rookie talents.
For the Raptors, Ja’Kobe is coming off a 22-point team-high performance against the Pistons on Friday. He continues to impress with his quick and accurate midrange shots and efficiency from deep that help drive the offence. Many of his shots were on dimes from Jamal Shead who had 9 assists in that game, as their chemistry on the court continues to develop.
RJ Barrett will also be a presence in this game, helping bring veteran leadership to a young lineup and demonstrate his abilities as a two-way player. In the last five games, he’s averaged 20-5-4 while shooting 48% from the floor.
As the Raptors go up against another team riddled with injuries and limited experience, they will have to limit mistakes on the offensive end and shore up their defence to secure a win.
Shead has been great at distributing the ball while limiting turnovers, but they will need to ensure it’s a team effort. They’ve turned the ball over about 15 times per game this season, so they will need to continue to work towards limiting them to prevent extra possessions for the Nets.
Another key for the Raptors will be limiting defensive lapses. The Raptors have had the third-best defensive rating in the league over the last 15 games, and while part of that is due to the calibre of their opponents, they have shown a lot of development over the season as well. Their help defence, communication, and switching have all made drastic improvements. The only issue is when that system breaks down, they allow an easy path to the basket or back cutting. This will be the perfect opportunity to continue to make adjustments defensively to prevent both of those things.
Where to Watch
Tune in at 3:30 pm ET on SportsNet!
Probable Starters
Toronto: Jonathan Mogbo, RJ Barrett, Orlando Robinson, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jamal Shead
Brooklyn: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Trendon Watford, Ziaire Williams, Drew Timme
Injury Report
Toronto: Scottie Barnes (Questionable: Joint contusion), Ulrich Chomche (Out: MCL tear), Gradey Dick (Out: Bone bruise), Brandon Ingram (Out: Ankle sprain), Jakob Poeltl (Out: Rest), Immanuel Quickley (Out: Rest)
Brooklyn: Nic Claxton (Out: Rest), Noah Clowney (Out: Ankle sprain), Cameron Johnson (Out: Back contusion), De’Anthony Melton (Out: ACL tear), D’Angelo Russell (Out: Ankle Soreness), Day’Ron Sharpe (Out: Knee sprain), Cam Thomas (Out: Hamstring strain)