The Toronto Raptors (9-8, 6-1 Home) will try to slow down one of the NBA’s top shooting teams when they welcome the Brooklyn Nets (8-10, 4-6 Away) on Wednesday. Brooklyn is playing on back-to-back days after being beaten by the Philadelphia 76ers 115-106 at Wells Fargo Center yesterday.
With 23 points, Kyrie Irving was the scoring leader in the loss. Ben Simmons added 11 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, and three blocks. The Nets are ninth in the Eastern Conference. Toronto lost a close one on Saturday at State Farm Arena, falling to the Atlanta Hawks 124-122 in overtime.
Scottie Barnes topped the scoresheet in the loss with 28 points. With 18 points and nine rebounds, Thaddeus Young also played a part. The Raptors are seventh in the Eastern Conference. The teams are meeting for the final time this season.
Brooklyn will be seeking a season sweep against Toronto after taking the only prior meeting 109-105 at Barclays Center on October 21. Pascal Siakam had a triple double to lead the game in scoring with 37 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists in defeat. Irving had 30 points for the Nets, while Nicolas Claxton was a key contributor with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks.
The Nets have been led this season by Kevin Durant, who is averaging 29.8 points per game, best in the NBA. Durant also has dished 5.3 assists per game, most in the league. Meanwhile, Claxton is grabbing 8.1 rebounds.
OG Anunoby (18.8 ppg), Fred VanVleet (18.5), and Gary Trent Jr. (16.6) have supplied much of the Raptors’ offense. Anunoby leads the NBA. VanVleet also has tallied 6.8 assists per game, most in the NBA. Meanwhile, Precious Achiuwa has averaged 7.0 rebounds per game.
The Nets are shooting 48.9% from the field, ranking as one of the league’s most accurate field goal shooting teams (3rd).The Nets have had minimal success at Scotiabank Arena in recent seasons, losing nine of the last 10 visits.
Toronto has won four straight at home this season. Meanwhile, the Nets are 1-3 this season when playing two days in a row and 0-3 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest. In the last 10 games, Brooklyn is 6-4 with an average margin of +4.6 (110.8-106.2). Toronto has split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 114.5 points per game on average while allowing 112.4 (+2.1 margin).
NETS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Ben Simmons: 29.5 | 18.3 | +11.2
Nicolas Claxton: 13.8 | 20.8 | -7.0
Rebounds per game:
Ben Simmons: 8.3 | 5.9 | +2.3
Nicolas Claxton: 3.8 | 8.1 | -4.3
RAPTORS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Thaddeus Young: 19.6 | 10.6 | +9.0
Gary Trent Jr.: 11.0 | 19.9 | -8.9
Points per game:
Chris Boucher: 18.5 | 12.3 | +6.2
Gary Trent Jr.: 9.0 | 16.6 | -7.6
Rebounds per game:
Chris Boucher: 8.3 | 5.8 | +2.5
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Toronto Raptors (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
