OGT Mar 8: Nets (18-45) @ Raptors (41-20) 7:30 PM EST

[Legends66NBA7]

Game Preview: http://www.nba.com/games/20160308/BK...nba:scoreboard

For the first time in two months, the Toronto Raptors are coming off a loss at home.

The last time they were in that situation, they responded with a victory over the Brooklyn Nets that started the longest home winning streak in franchise history.

At the midpoint of a seven-game homestand, the Raptors again look to bounce back with a victory over the Nets when they meet Tuesday night.

It appeared Toronto (41-20) would have little trouble extending its home winning streak to 13 on Sunday, leading a Houston team playing the second of a back-to-back by 18 midway through the second quarter. The Raptors, though, had no answer for James Harden after halftime, as he scored 30 of his 40 points in the final 24 minutes to lead the Rockets to a 113-107 win.

Toronto coach Dwane Casey wasn't surprised by the inability to protect a big lead after watching his team blow almost all of a 14-point fourth-quarter advantage in Friday's 117-115 victory over Portland.

"That's been our weakness all year," Casey said. "I've said that millions of times. We've luckily won some of those games, but I've always said it's going to come back and bite us. We have to keep the same intensity when we get leads, the same quality of possessions offensively."

Defense was the biggest problem Sunday, however, as the Rockets shot 58.3 percent and made nine of 16 3-pointers in the second half. Houston had 62 second-half points -- the third time in four games an opponent reached that number.

Toronto is routinely getting burned from beyond the arc, allowing each of its last five opponents to make at least 10 3-pointers while shooting 44.6 percent.

"It's the kind of thing that has been occurring too much for us," point guard Kyle Lowry said. "We have to get better defensively. We are giving up 100 points like it's nothing."

The Nets (18-45) had almost given up 100 points through three quarters Saturday at Minnesota, allowing the Timberwolves to shoot a franchise-record 68.4 percent in a 132-118 loss.

In fairness, interim coach Tony Brown opted to rest top interior defensive player Brook Lopez and 6-foot-8 power forward Thaddeus Young with Brooklyn playing on the second night of a back-to-back. Thomas Robinson had 18 points and 17 rebounds but Brooklyn's starters were outscored 95-56.

"I think our other guys who got a chance to play, they have to show more energy, play with a little bit more effort and play together on both ends of the floor," Brown said.

Lopez had 29 points in Brooklyn's last game against Toronto on Jan. 18, but was outdone by the Raptors' high-scoring backcourt as Lowry had 31 and DeMar DeRozan added 30. Toronto won 112-100 for the first of 12 straight home victories.

DeRozan recorded back-to-back 30-point games before scoring 19 with five turnovers -- his most since Dec. 22 -- versus Houston.

Lowry had 17 points against the Rockets after averaging 34.3 and 65.5 percent shooting in his previous three.

Jonas Valanciunas had one of his best games of the season in a 91-74 win at Brooklyn on Jan. 6, scoring 22, but he was held to six on 3-of-11 shooting in the rematch 12 days later.

The Nets, losers of three of four regular-season games in Toronto, are 3-4 on a season-high nine-game trip to match the number of wins from their previous 18 road contests.

[Legends66NBA7]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RaptorsMR/

The @Raptors starting Norm Powell and Jason Thompson vs. Nets. Thompson makes first start with Toronto. #rtz

Well, that's nice to see. Scola wasn't cutting it and Casey was demanding better defense.

Wonder if JT can provide...


Lowry and DeRozan are the only players to start every game this season. A far cry from last year when they missed a combined 34 games.

[Sakkreth]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RaptorsMR/




Well, that's nice to see. Scola wasn't cutting it and Casey was demanding better defense.

Wonder if JT can provide...


Lowry and DeRozan are the only players to start every game this season. A far cry from last year when they missed a combined 34 games.

Lowry was sitting out vs Pistons.

[Legends66NBA7]

Lowry was sitting out vs Pistons.

Ah that's right...

Oh well, just DeMar then.

[Kungfro]

Powell clearly earning Casey's trust, playing some big minutes so far. Maybe playing the Nets has something to do with it, but I'm a big fan of him.

[Legends66NBA7]

These has been a terrible 2nd quarter... Don't know why they look so conufused out there.

[A.M.G.]

Bizzy B

[Legends66NBA7]

Turning this shit off and will watch the PVR. F[COLOR="Black"]u[/COLOR]ck this team.

[Sakkreth]

Turning this shit off and will watch the PVR. F[COLOR="Black"]u[/COLOR]ck this team.

I am going to bed as well it's 3:40am

no point to stay up for the 2nd half when they play like that.

[It's A VC3!!!]

The Nets big men are doing work tonight. This should continue in the second half. Also, I really really like Killpatrick. He's such a great shooter and he's definitely a piece I want with this team for the next few years. I always like watching Nets vs Raptors because there is a bit of history there. Especially when we win.

[k0kakw0rld]

WTF are they doing?

B. Lopez (When healthy top 5 best centers)

[Kungfro]

Turning this shit off and will watch the PVR. F[COLOR=Black]u[/COLOR]ck this team.

Better tune back in, finally got a game again.

[Legends66NBA7]

Better tune back in, finally got a game again.

Busy. Will watch it after.

[Kungfro]

Biyombo has been so much better on Lopez this game then JV.

[Kungfro]

Just when I think the Raps have an answer for Lopez, he starts tearing it up again. Been unstoppable this game.