The Toronto Raptors host the Brooklyn Nets in the battle for the bottom on Thursday night.
The Raptors come into this game riding a five-game losing streak, while the Nets are on a three-game skid. The Raptors are currently favored to win this game. It’s the first time all season they have been favored.
After the Nets traded Dennis Schroder, the belief is that they will head towards a fire sale and play for the lottery for the rest of the season.
For the Raptors their quest to remain as one of the bottom teams in the NBA might be in jeopardy with the pending return of Scottie Barnes.
Barnes was expected to miss several weeks with a right ankle injury, but he has been progressing well and has been upgraded to questionable for this game. If Barnes plays, it will be a miraculous recovery since he only missed two games. Jakob Poeltl will be out with a bilateral groin strain and he is day-to-day. Bruce Brown (knee) and Immanuel Quickley (elbow) remain out.
For the Nets their leading scorer Cam Thomas (hamstring), Ziare Williams (knee), Trendon Watford (hamstring), De’Anthony Melton (ACL) and Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) will all be out.
If Barnes doesn’t suit up, the Raptors should still be in a good position to win this game. The Nets’ defense ranks 27th in the league so the Raptors should feast on that. Particularly RJ Barrett who will be able to get to the rim. He ranks in the top ten in driver per game and should be able to have his way inside. Gradey Dick will also be the key for tonight with his off ball movement to open things up for himself and his teammates.
Brooklyn Nets (10-16) vs. Toronto Raptors (7-20)
7:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, December 19, 2024
Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
TV: Sportsnet
Projected Nets Starting Lineup:
PG: Ben Simmons
SG: Keon Johnson
SF: Cam Johnson
PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
C: Nic Claxton
Key Reserves: Jalen Wilson, Day’Ron Sharpe, Noah Clowney
Projected Raptors Starting Lineup:
PG: RJ Barrett
SG: Gradey Dick
SF: Ja’Kobe Walter
PF: Ochai Agbaji
C: Kelly Olynyk
Key Reserves: Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, Jonthan Mogbo
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