GAME 36: TORONTO RAPTORS (23-12) at BROOKLYN NETS (16-17) SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 2020 – 6 P.M. (ET) – BARCLAYS CENTER TV: TSN – RADIO: SPORTSNET 590 THE FAN
INJURY REPORTS At 1:30 p.m. Saturday
TOR@BKN
Brooklyn Nets Claxton, Nicolas Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Soreness Durant, Kevin Out Injury/Illness – Right Achilles; Rehab Irving, Kyrie Out Injury/Illness – Right Shoulder; Impingement LeVert, Caris Probable Injury/Illness – Right Thumb; Surgery Temple, Garrett Probable Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Contusion
Toronto Raptors Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strained Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprained Ponds, Shamorie Out G League – Two-Way Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Shoulder; Subluxation Siakam, Pascal Out Injury/Illness – Groin; Strained Thomas, Matt Out Injury/Illness – Left Middle Finger; Fracture-Distal Phalanx
RAPTORS NOTES
• The Toronto Raptors complete a two-game road trip (Jan. 2-4) when they travel to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Saturday night at Barclays Center. The Raptors have won 16 of the last 17 meetings with Brooklyn, including the first matchup this season. Pascal Siakam scored 30 points and Marc Gasol set season highs with 17 points and 15 rebounds in Toronto’s 110-102 victory last month. Injured Raptors Siakam, Gasol and Norman Powell scored 72 of Toronto’s 110 points in the contest. The last time Toronto lost the season-series with the Nets was in 2012-13.
• Serge Ibaka recorded his fourth straight double-double and eighth of the season with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes of action Thursday night at Miami. All eight of Ibaka’s doubledoubles have come in the last 13 games (Dec. 9 – Jan. 2). Ibaka is averaging 17.8 points and 11.0 rebounds over the last four games (Dec. 28 – Jan. 2).
• Toronto held the Heat to just 84 points in Thursday night’s loss at Miami. The Raptors have now held their opponent to fewer than 100 points in four straight games (Dec. 28 – Jan. 2). Over the last four contests, opponents are averaging 94.0 points and shooting .417 (135-for-324) from the field, including .279 (39-for14) from three-point range. The last time Toronto allowed fewer than 100 points in four consecutive games was an eight-game streak that stretched over two seasons Apr. 5 – Oct. 28, 2016.
• Former Net Rondae Hollis-Jefferson returns to Brooklyn for the first time since signing as a free agent with the Raptors in the summer. Hollis-Jefferson averaged 9.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 23.6 minutes in 234 career games (147 starts) with the Brooklyn (2015-19). He was picked 23rd overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2015 NBA Draft and acquired by the Nets on draft night.
• OG Anunoby recorded his fourth double-double of the season Thursday night, finishing with 12 points and a career high-tying 12 rebounds. Anunoby did not have a double-double in either of his first two seasons.
• Marc Gasol (left hamstring; strain), Pascal Siakam (groin; stretch) and Norman Powell (left shoulder; subluxation) were all injured Dec. 18 at Detroit. Toronto is 4-4 over the last eight games without them. The Raptors are averaging 106.5 points and shooting .442 (303-for-686) from the field during this span.
• Kyle Lowry needs 84 assists to tie Jose Calderon (3,770) as the Raptors’ all-time leader in assists. Lowry is already the franchise leader in three-point field goals (1,297), steals (773) and playoff victories (37). Lowry has recorded 10+ assists 110 times – second most in team history behind only Calderon (141).
• Terence Davis ll is one of the five rookies who’ve played in every game for their team this season, along with Darius Bazley (Oklahoma City), Darius Garland (Cleveland), Kendrick Nunn (Miami) and Coby White (Chicago). Only two rookies have played in every game of a season for the Raptors: Vince Carter in 1998– 99 (which was a lockout-shortened 50-game season) and Matt Bonner (2004–05).
• MISCELLANEOUS: The Raptors have not lost consecutive road games this season … Toronto set season lows in points (76), FG% (.315) and 3PT% (.143) Thursday at Miami … Chris Boucher leads the Raptors with 61 offensive rebounds and ranks second in blocks (27) behind Marc Gasol (30).
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – PATRICK McCAW #22 • Recorded three points, one rebound and one assist in 28 minutes Jan. 2 at Miami. • Averaging 8.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 30.2 minutes in eight games as a starter. • Has played at least 20 minutes in a career-long 11 straight games (Dec. 14 – Jan. 2).
MIN: 26.4 REB: 2.4 AST: 2.0 STL: 1.1 TO: 1.1 BLK: 0.1 PTS: 6.0
F – OG ANUNOBY #3 • Posted fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and a career high-tying 12 rebounds Jan. 2 at Miami. • Toronto is 15-4 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points. • Has scored 12 points in consecutive games (Dec. 31 – Jan. 2); shooting 50 per cent (10-for-20) from the floor.
MIN: 29.8 REB: 5.9 AST: 1.7 STL: 1.12 TO: 1.4 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 11.1
C – SERGE IBAKA #9 • Recorded eighth double-double of the season with a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds Jan. 2 at Miami. • Averaging 16.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 32.1 minutes in eight games as a starter. • Has scored in double figures in 15 of the last 17 games (Dec. 1 – Jan. 2), including five 20-point outings.
MIN: 38.1 REB: 4.8 AST: 7.5 STL: 1.3 TO: 3.2 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 20.7
G – KYLE LOWRY #7 • Finished with 15 points, four rebounds and eight assists in 40 minutes of play Jan. 2 at Miami. • Has made at least two three-pointers in 11 straight games (Dec. 14 – Jan. 2); totaled 37 threes during this span. • December was the first calendar month in which he averaged 20 points and eight assists since December 2014.
MIN: 38.1 REB: 4.8 AST: 7.5 STL: 1.3 TO: 3.2 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 20.7
G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Finished with seven points, six assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes of action Jan. 2 at Miami. • Ranks fifth in the NBA in steals per games (1.97) and sixth in minutes (36.3). • Has recorded five double-doubles this season; something he did once in first three NBA seasons combined.
MIN: 36.3 REB: 3.9 AST: 6.9 STL: 2.0 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 17.6
INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; strain) – Out Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – Out Norman Powell (Left shoulder; subluxation ) – Out Pascal Siakam (Groin; stretch) – Out Matt Thomas (Left middle finger; distal phalanx fracture) – Out
LAST TIME BROOKLYN VS. TORONTO
GAME 25 – DECEMBER 14, 2019 TORONTO 110, BROOKLYN 102
TORONTO– Pascal Siakam scored 30 points, Marc Gasol set season highs with 17 points and 15 rebounds and the Toronto Raptors beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-102 on Saturday night to snap a three-game home losing streak … Norman Powell fouled out with 25 points and Kyle Lowry had 17 to help the Raptors win their ninth straight home game against the Nets and beat Brooklyn for the 16th time in 17 meetings … Serge Ibaka had 12 points and 12 rebounds … The Raptors made nine of 12 attempts from 3-point range in the first quarter, including their first seven straight … Spencer Dinwiddie scored 26 points, Garrett Temple added 16 and Taurean Prince had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who are 0-4 on the road against opponents with winning records … The Nets saw a 20-point lead slip away in Wednesday’s 113-108 home loss to Charlotte … Temple couldn’t convert a three-point play after making a layup to begin the fourth, and Powell scored five points as Toronto replied with a 9-0 run, taking a 99-85 lead with 8:32 left to play … Siakam had 14 points in the first as the Raptors overcame an early 12-2 deficit to lead 38-31 after one … The Raptors led 90-83 through three quarters.
1 2 3 4 TOT
BROOKLYN 31 29 23 19 102
TORONTO 38 27 25 20 110
NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Portland Trailblazers Date: Tuesday, January 7 Tip-Off: 7 p.m. (ET) Venue: Scotiabank Arena Television: TSN Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. PORTLAND
OVERALL HOME ROAD 2019-20 1-0 0-0 1-0 ALL-TIME 18-28 10-13 8-15 STREAKS Won 2 Won 4 Won 1
LAST WIN: November 13, 2019 (114-106)
LAST HOME WIN: March 1, 2019 (119-117)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +36, January 28, 1997
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -24, January 4, 2000
LAST TIME VS. PORTLAND
GAME 11 – NOVEMBER 13, 2019 TORONTO 114, PORTLAND 106
PORTLAND — The Raptors held Damian Lillard to just nine points in a 114-106 win over the Portland Trail Blazers … Pascal Siakam scored 36 points and Fred VanVleet had 30 … Siakam scored 13 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter to help close out the Trail Blazers and help Toronto bounce back from Monday night’s loss to the L.A. Clippers … Rodney Hood led the Blazers with 25 points … Lillard had 2-fof-12 shooting from the field and was 2 of 7 from 3-point range … He did dish 10 assists … CJ McCollum also pitched in 18 points while Anfernee Simons had 17 off the bench … The Raptors attacked in waves, with Siakam scoring seven straight points to close the third quarter and give the Raptors an 87-78 lead heading into the fourth … The Raptors also got solid bench contributions from Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Terence Davis (15 points) … The Blazers went on an 11-2 run to start the fourth quarter, tying the game at 89 with 9:06 left as Lillard watched from the bench … A dunk by Hollis-Jefferson with 5:29 left gave the Raptors a 10194 lead … Another jumper by Siakam with 3:38 remaining gave the Raptors a 108-94 lead, their largest of the game.
1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 23 31 33 27 114
PORTLAND 30 23 25 28 106
GAME 35 – JANUARY 2, 2020 MIAMI 84, TORONTO 76 MIAMI — Bam Adebayo had 15 points and 14 rebounds, and the Miami Heat put together their best defensive performance of the season in an 84 -76 victory over the Toronto Raptors … The Raptors’ scoring total was their lowest in more than four years — also coming in a game at Miami on Nov. 8, 2015 — and the second-lowest by any team in the NBA this season … Tyler Herro and Goran Dragic each scored 13 points for Miami, which is now 2-0 against the Raptors this season … Derrick Jones Jr. scored 10 points and Jimmy Butler finished with eight points, 12 rebounds and seven assists for Miami … Serge Ibaka had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Toronto … Kyle Lowry scored 15 points, Rondae HollisJefferson added 13 and OG Anunoby had 12 points and 12 rebounds … The Raptors shot only 31.5% and were 6 for 42 from 3-point range … Toronto’s previous season low for points was 88, in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Nov. 11 … Anunoby was fouled on a 3-point try with 1:21 left in the third, making all three free throws to tie the game at 60 … But the Heat went on a 17-5 run in the fourth and held Toronto to 16 points in the final 12 minutes … Fred VanVleet was 3 for 16 from the field and 1 for 11 from 3-point range … Toronto started 2 for 21 from 3-point range, before Anunoby connected on a corner 3 at the end of the first half. 1 2 3 4 TOT
TORONTO 20 19 21 16 76
MIAMI 18 24 21 21 84
GAME 34 – DECEMBER 31, 2019 TORONTO 117, CLEVELAND 97
TORONTO — Kyle Lowry scored 24 points and dished out eight assists as the Toronto Raptors won 117-97 against the Cleveland Cavaliers … Six Raptors scored in double figures … Serge Ibaka had 20 points and 10 rebounds, Terence Davis matched his career high with 19 points, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 14, and Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby had 12 points apiece … The Raptors went 9-7 in December, and played the past seven games without Pascal Siakam (groin), Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Norm Powell (shoulder) … Collin Sexton had 22 points to top the Cavaliers, while Thompson had 14 points and 11 rebounds … The Raptors had a double-digit lead in the second quarter, and by the time Ibaka hit a hook shot with 3:33 to play in the third, Toronto was up by 21 … The Raptors led 86-69 to start the fourth … Davis had 14 points in the fourth … VanVleet had four blocks on the night … The Raptors connected on 43.6 per cent from long distance, while the Cavs were good on just 26.3 per cent … Anunoby nailed three consecutive shots when he subbed in … Lowry’s 33-footer put the Raptors up by 14 points late in the second quarter … A running layup by Hollis-Jefferson with 1.6 seconds left in the half had Toronto up 59-43 at halftime.
1 2 3 4 TOT
CLEVELAND 25 18 26 28 97
TORONTO 27 32 27 31 117 RECE
BROOKLYN’S PROBABLE STARTERS
[ F ] J O E H A R R I S #12 • VIRGINIA (6th Season) • 6-6 • 220
2019-20 Averages 14.5 ppg 4.1 rpg 2.2 apg 31.9 mpg
• Originally signed with the Nets on July 19, 2016 and resigned with the team on July 24, 2018. • In 2018-19, became the first player in Nets history to lead the league in 3FG % (.474), and the first player in franchise history to win the 3-Point Contest at All-Star weekend.
Last Game: 11 pts, 4 rebs, 5 asts 31 mins 1/2 at DAL
[ F ] T A U R E A N P R I N C E #2 • BAYLOR (4th Season) • 6-7 • 218
2019-20 Averages 12.2 ppg 6.7 rpg 2.1 apg 30.4 mpg • Acquired via trade with Atlanta on 7/6/19 and signed a multiyear contract extension with Brooklyn on 10/21/19. • Has already registered seven double-doubles this season after posting five in his first three NBA seasons combined (all in the 2017-18 season).
Last game: 11 pts, 6 rebs, 2 asts 28 mins 1/2 at DAL
[C ] J A R R E T T A L L E N #31 • TEXAS (3rd Season) • 6-11 • 243
2019-20 Averages 11.9 ppg 10.1 rpg 1.3 bpg 26.5 mpg • Selected by the Nets with the 22nd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and had his 2020-21 team option exercised on 10/14/19. • Leads all players 21 and under in rpg and is among the top three among players 21 and under in double-doubles and bpg
Last Game: 9 pts, 6 rebs, 0 blks 26 mins 1/2 at DAL
[G ] G A R R E T T T E M P L E #17 • LOUISIANA STATE (10th Season) • 6-5 • 195 2019-20 Averages 10.6 ppg 3.4 rpg 2.6 apg 29.5 mpg • Is in his first season with Brooklyn after signing with the Nets as a free agent on 7/8/19. • Has tallied 25+ points twice this season (12/4 at Atlanta and 12/21 vs. Atlanta) after scoring 25+ points twice in his first nine NBA seasons combined.
Last Game: INACTIVE Right Knee Contusion 1/2 at DAL
[G ] S P E N C E R D I N W I D D I E #8 • COLORADO (6th Season) • 6-5 • 215 2019-20 Averages 22.8 ppg 3.0 rpg 6.3 apg 30.7 mpg • Originally signed with the Nets on December 8, 2016 and re-signed a multi-year contract on December 14, 2018. • Earned his first-career Player of the Week honor for games played from 11/18 – 11/24, and is currently averaging careerhighs for ppg, FTM, FTA, FT %, offensive rating and usage.
Last Game: 19 pts, 2 rebs, 5 asts 23 mins 1/2 at DAL 2019-20
IF THE NETS WIN It would allow Brooklyn to avoid extending its season-long losing skid to five games (last win: 122-112 over Atlanta on 12/21). It would snap Brooklyn’s four-game losing skid against the Raptors (last win: 106-105 in OT on 12/7/18 at Barclays Center).
LAST 22: DEFENSE REMAINS STRONG THROUGH 12-10 STRETCH LAST 22: See the chart for stats and ranks from Brooklyn’s last 22 games (11/16 – 1/2), compared to the first 11 games of the season (4-7).
LINEUP: Brooklyn’s starting five of Dinwiddie, Temple, Harris, Prince and Allen has played 343 minutes in the last 22 games (Temple sat out Brooklyn’s last game). The only five-man unit in the NBA to play more minutes than Brooklyn’s starting five since 11/16 is Denver’s five-man unit of Paul Millsap, Will Barton, Gary Harris, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray with 347 minutes). All five starters have averaged double digit scoring in this 22-game stretch: Dinwiddie (25.7), Harris (15.3), Allen (13.2), Temple (12.2) and Prince (11.7).
e starters have averaged double digit scoring in this 22-game stretch: Dinwiddie (25.7), Harris (15.3), Allen (13.2), Temple (12.2) and Prince (11.7).
TEAM NOTABLES The Nets attempt the second-fewest mid-range FG/game (6.2) and attempt the most shots/game from the restricted area (35.9). Brooklyn allows the most shots from mid-range/game (15.2).
The Nets register the fewest post-ups/game (1.0) in the league (next-fewest: Utah’s 2.4). The Nets are holding their opponents to .580 FG % in the restricted area, the third-best mark in the league, trailing only Milwaukee (.539) and Toronto (.575)
. FOUR FACTORS: The Nets are 22nd in effective FG % (.509), eighth in offensive rebound % (.284), 14th in FTA rate (.264) and 19th in turnover % (.151).
OPP FOUR FACTORS: The Nets are fourth in opponent effective FG % (.499), 18th in opponent offensive rebound % (.275), 13th in opponent FTA rate (.243) and 27th in opponent turnover % (.129).
CLUTCH: Clutch situations are defined as the last five minutes of a game with the point diff. at five or less). Brooklyn is tied for fourth in the league in ‘clutch’ games (22) and tied for fifth in ‘clutch’ wins (12).
PAINT: The Nets have outscored their opponent by 10+ points in the paint in nine of their last 12 games (since 12/6 at Charlotte), outscoring their opponents 620-468 (+152).
HOME IN BROOKLYN The Nets will play 10 home games this month, marking their season-high for home games played in a month. The 10 home games also match a Nets record for most home games played in the month of January (previously: Jan. 2016 and Jan. 1996).
PLAYER NOTABLES Since assuming the starting point guard role with Kyrie Irving out (the last 22 games, since 11/16 at Chicago), Spencer Dinwiddie ranks fourth in the East (ninth in the league) in ppg (25.7), trailing Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.3), Trae Young (29.0) and Bradley Beal (26.9). Dinwiddie is fifth in the East in apg (7.1) in that time, trailing Ben Simmons (9.4), Kyle Lowry (8.0), Young (8.0) and Devonte’ Graham (7.9).
Dinwiddie is also eighth in the league in FTM/game (6.6) and seventh in FTA/game (8.2) in that time. Just seven players in the league have averaged 25.0+ ppg and 7.0+ apg since Dinwiddie assumed the starting point guard role: Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Trae Young and Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie is tied for second in the league in drives/game (19.2) with DeMar DeRozan, trailing only Trae Young (20.0), and is second in drive ppg (12.3), trailing only Harden (13.9).
Jarrett Allen is fourth in the league in FG % (.657), trailing Mitchell Robinson, Rudy Gobert and Richaun Holmes, fifth in dunks (95), trailing Antetokounmpo (115) and Gobert (98), Anthony Davis (97) and Clint Capela (96), ninth in offensive rebound % (.118), ninth in orpg (3.4) and 11th in rpg (10.1). DeAndre Jordan is fourth in the league in rebound % (.204), fifth in defensive rebound % (.299) and ranks first in rpg off the bench (9.7).
The view from left field 