Legends66NBA7
02-04-2015, 07:49 PM
Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20150204/BKNTOR/gameinfo.html?ls=slt
The Toronto Raptors managed to keep a long winning streak going this past weekend despite blowing a pair of double-digit leads, but they couldn't overcome one of their worst offensive performances as the run came to an end.
The Raptors will try to get back on track Wednesday night against a Brooklyn Nets team they recently defeated and that's struggled to contain opponents lately.
Toronto (33-16) couldn't hold on to a 17-point lead in Brooklyn on Friday but came away with a 127-122 overtime victory. The Raptors then fumbled away an 18-point advantage at Washington the next night before posting another OT win, 120-116.
They had a chance at their first seven-game win streak in 13 seasons in Monday's opener to a five-game homestand but lost 82-75 to Milwaukee. Toronto scored its fewest points at home since a 93-75 loss to Philadelphia on April 11, 2012, and its 32.1 percent shooting was its worst there this season.
That led to a terse postgame from leading scorer Kyle Lowry, who responded to questions with "had a bad game" after finishing with two points and five assists. Lowry, averaging 19.0 points, scored 23 against Washington.
"That was a stinker," said coach Dwane Casey, whose team is 18-8 at home. "We didn't have any energy for whatever reason."
After five games in seven days, the Raptors are getting a brief break before facing one of their Atlantic Division rivals. Brooklyn (19-28) enters having let six straight opponents reach 100 points for the first time in three seasons.
The Nets have allowed an average of 111.8 points over that span but snapped a four-game skid Monday with a 102-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Jarrett Jack hit the go-ahead shot with 1.3 seconds left to complete his team's rally from a nine-point deficit in the final 1:35.
"It's gratifying, I think, to go through the bumps and the bruises and then to kind of get off the schneid in the fashion that we did against a really special team," Jack said.
Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson combined for 46 points, while Deron Williams scored 15 in his first game after missing 11 straight because of fractured cartilage in his rib.
Williams missed 10 of 15 shots and finished with 11 points in his only game against Toronto this season, a 105-89 loss Dec. 17. That was the teams' first meeting in Toronto since Brooklyn's Game 7 win in the opening round of last year's playoffs.
Lowry had 20 points and 12 assists in the latest visit from the Nets but scored 10 on 4-of-17 shooting Friday. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Lou Williams each provided at least 24 points in Brooklyn.
Jack scored a career-best 35 points while Lopez had a season-high 35 and 12 rebounds in last week's meeting.
Brooklyn will be trying to avoid losing four straight away from home for the first time since Dec. 13-31, 2013. Including a pair of postseason series, the Nets have dropped 14 of their last 21 in Toronto.
The Toronto Raptors managed to keep a long winning streak going this past weekend despite blowing a pair of double-digit leads, but they couldn't overcome one of their worst offensive performances as the run came to an end.
The Raptors will try to get back on track Wednesday night against a Brooklyn Nets team they recently defeated and that's struggled to contain opponents lately.
Toronto (33-16) couldn't hold on to a 17-point lead in Brooklyn on Friday but came away with a 127-122 overtime victory. The Raptors then fumbled away an 18-point advantage at Washington the next night before posting another OT win, 120-116.
They had a chance at their first seven-game win streak in 13 seasons in Monday's opener to a five-game homestand but lost 82-75 to Milwaukee. Toronto scored its fewest points at home since a 93-75 loss to Philadelphia on April 11, 2012, and its 32.1 percent shooting was its worst there this season.
That led to a terse postgame from leading scorer Kyle Lowry, who responded to questions with "had a bad game" after finishing with two points and five assists. Lowry, averaging 19.0 points, scored 23 against Washington.
"That was a stinker," said coach Dwane Casey, whose team is 18-8 at home. "We didn't have any energy for whatever reason."
After five games in seven days, the Raptors are getting a brief break before facing one of their Atlantic Division rivals. Brooklyn (19-28) enters having let six straight opponents reach 100 points for the first time in three seasons.
The Nets have allowed an average of 111.8 points over that span but snapped a four-game skid Monday with a 102-100 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Jarrett Jack hit the go-ahead shot with 1.3 seconds left to complete his team's rally from a nine-point deficit in the final 1:35.
"It's gratifying, I think, to go through the bumps and the bruises and then to kind of get off the schneid in the fashion that we did against a really special team," Jack said.
Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson combined for 46 points, while Deron Williams scored 15 in his first game after missing 11 straight because of fractured cartilage in his rib.
Williams missed 10 of 15 shots and finished with 11 points in his only game against Toronto this season, a 105-89 loss Dec. 17. That was the teams' first meeting in Toronto since Brooklyn's Game 7 win in the opening round of last year's playoffs.
Lowry had 20 points and 12 assists in the latest visit from the Nets but scored 10 on 4-of-17 shooting Friday. DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson and Lou Williams each provided at least 24 points in Brooklyn.
Jack scored a career-best 35 points while Lopez had a season-high 35 and 12 rebounds in last week's meeting.
Brooklyn will be trying to avoid losing four straight away from home for the first time since Dec. 13-31, 2013. Including a pair of postseason series, the Nets have dropped 14 of their last 21 in Toronto.