Nets top Raptors in Toronto to snap six-game losing streak
Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr., center, reaches for a loose ball under pressure from Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) and teammate Mikal Bridges (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Toronto, Monday, March 25, 2024. Credit: AP/Nathan Denette
TORONTO — The last three Nets games featured fourth-quarter collapses. So it seemed right to worry again on Monday as the Raptors made a late charge.
Instead, the Toronto fans started leaving with 95 seconds left as the Nets came away with a 96-88 win at Scotiabank Arena. A 12-0 run kept them ahead to snap a six-game losing streak.
For once, there was relief in interim coach Kevin Ollie’s voice instead of exasperation. His voice was strained after the win, yet there was joy seeing different players step up with two starters sidelined by injury.
“Playing with one another. Getting stops,” Ollie said of the Nets’ formula. “Our defense was phenomenal tonight and then we just outrebounded them.”
The win came as the Nets (27-45) were without Cam Johnson (sprained big toe), Dennis Smith Jr. (right hip synovitis) and Keita Bates-Diop (right shin stress reaction). Cam Thomas was also ruled out just before the game due to back spasms, Ollie said.
Mikal Bridges also struggled through a 5-for-15 shooting night. Yet the Nets got help as Dennis Schroder and Trendon Watford each had 19 points as the he team allowed their second-fewest points in a game this season.
Jalen Wilson, starting for the second time in his rookie season, had 12 points and five rebounds. Fellow rookie Noah Clowney added seven points and six rebounds. The Nets finished with 50 rebounds, led by Nic Claxton’s 16. The Raptors had 30.
However, the Nets didn’t gain ground on the Hawks, who rallied from a 30-point deficit to defeat the Celtics on Monday. They remain 5 1⁄2 games back of the final play-in tournament spot.
With his three children in attendance, Schroder made two baskets during the run to put the Nets up 90-81. Watford added a jumper as the Nets sent the Raptors (23-49) to their 11th consecutive loss.
“We’ve been preaching it just picking our brothers up when they’re down,” said Watford, who had a season-high in points. “Tonight, Mikal didn’t have the game that he wanted to but other players just got to pick him up and we did that.
With the Raptors down four starters, it was far from a pretty game. The Nets shot 23.1% from beyond the arc and the Raptors were worse at 18.5%. The Nets also didn’t cross 90 points until 2:10 remaining.
Bridges had just 13 points in 37 minutes and appeared to limp after taking a fall in the third quarter. But he played on and played the entire fourth quarter.
“I was playing bad pretty much the whole game but I just wanted to win,” said Bridges, who said he rolled his ankle. “I felt good enough where I’m like I think I can help the team right now. I just didn’t want to lose this game.”
For Ollie, it was a return to the arena where he began his interim head coaching journey. The Feb. 22 contest was to forget with 20 turnovers and the Nets reminded him of that Monday with 20 turnovers as well.
But the Nets gave up just 16 fastbreak points instead of 46 that previous meeting. After their defense let them down the previous three games, it was refreshing to celebrate a win that relied on it.
“I’m so passionate when I talk to these guys sometimes because I know what they have inside and I know what we have in that locker room,” Ollie said. And I just want their masterpieces to come out all the time.”
Injuries add up
Johnson, Smith and Keita Bates-Diop did not travel to Toronto. Ollie said Johnson, who was injured Saturday against the Knicks, is also out for Wednesday at the Wizards and is staying home the rest of the trip.
Smith received an injection since his hip injury has lingered for a while. He hasn’t been ruled out for Wednesday. As for Bates-Diop, he’s still being evaluated to determine the severity of the injury.
Gilyard makes Nets debut
Jacob Gilyard made his Nets debut in the second quarter after signing a two-way contract on March 2. Gilyard, who played earlier this season with the Grizzlies, played 12 minutes and was held scoreless.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
