Kevin Durant: ‘It’s hard for you to chant at Ben Simmons when you’re losing by that much’ — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

76ers fans arrived early to jeer Ben Simmons. Many left before the Nets finished their 129-100 victory in Philadelphia last night.

Kevin Durant: ‘It’s hard for you to chant at Ben Simmons when you’re losing by that much’ — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Report: Ben Simmons expected to file grievance against 76ers — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Ben Simmons said he wasn’t mentally ready to play for the 76ers this season.

Report: Ben Simmons expected to file grievance against 76ers — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Tatum scores 54, leads Celtics to 126-120 win over Brooklyn — Boston Herald

Glen Davis showed up wearing a “Respect the Logo” T-shirt and, during one break in the action, stood and exchanged chatter with Kevin Durant from his second row baseline seat. 866 more words

Tatum scores 54, leads Celtics to 126-120 win over Brooklyn — Boston Herald

Celtics Notebook: Tatum takes charge in the presence of his idols — Boston Herald

Asked about Sunday’s difference, Kyrie Irving offered a name: “Jayson Tatum.” The Celtics star scored 54 points in the presence of two of his friends and idols — Irving and Kevin Durant — and once again left little doubt about his ascendance into the NBA’s upper tier. Including his 51-point performance in last season’s play-in…

Celtics Notebook: Tatum takes charge in the presence of his idols — Boston Herald

Jaylen Brown ‘Felt Good’ Vs. Nets In Return From Ankle Injury — NESN.com

Jaylen Brown suffered what looked like a pretty serious ankle injury on Tuesday against the Atlanta Hawks. But Celtics head coach Ime Udoka told reporters Wednesday that Brown’s ankle sprain wasn’t as bad as it looked, and the guard would be day-to-day. When Brown returned to the floor Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets, it was […]

Jaylen Brown ‘Felt Good’ Vs. Nets In Return From Ankle Injury — NESN.com

RAPTORS 109, NETS 108

FINAL SCORE: TORONTO RAPTORS 109, BROOKLYN NETS 108

DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022

 FINAL SCORERECORDHIGH POINTSHIGH REBOUNDSHIGH ASSISTS
Brooklyn10832-31Johnson – 19Aldridge – 9Curry – 6
Toronto10934-27Trent Jr. – 24Barnes – 10Flynn – 8
KEY RUN

Trailing by six points at the 5:25 mark in the fourth quarter, the Raptors went on a 13-2 run to take a five-point lead, their largest of the second half (103-98) with 1:50 remaining in the frame … Toronto led for the rest of the game.

KEY STAT

Toronto overcame an eight-point deficit (89-81) in the final frame, marking the Raptors’ largest fourth quarter comeback this season … Gary Trent Jr. led all scorers with 12 points in the fourth quarter and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

RAPTORS NOTES:

  • With the win, Toronto improves to 34-27 this season and 17-13 at home … The Raptors are now 9-4 on the second half of a back-to-back set … Toronto will continue a three-game homestand (Mar. 1-4) Thursday night against Detroit.
  • Gary Trent Jr. scored a team-high 24 points and matched a career best with seven assists … Trent Jr. has scored 20+ points in 21 of 52 games this season, something he did 15 times in 58 contests last year … He has also dished out 5+ assists in consecutive games (Feb. 28 – Mar. 1) for the first time in his career.
  • Scottie Barnes recorded 18 points (8-13 FG, 2-2 FT), a team-high 10 rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes … Barnes has now tallied seven double-doubles this season – the most by a Raptors rookie since Jonas Valanciunas (8) during the 2012-13 season … In four games since the All-star break, Barnes is averaging 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and shooting .720 (36-50) from the field.
  • Malachi Flynn made his second consecutive start (Feb. 28 – Mar. 1) and tallied 15 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in a season-high 43 minutes … Tonight marks the first time this season, and fifth in Flynn’s career, that he has recorded 15+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists.

NETS NOTES:

  • With the loss, Brooklyn falls to 32-31, including 19-14 on the road … The Nets drop to 2-9 on the second half of a back-to-back … Brooklyn will return home to play the Miami Heat Thursday night.
  • Seth Curry recorded 18 points and a team-high six assists in 37 minutes … Curry is averaging 17.9 points, 4.0 assists and shooting .490 (47-96) from the field in seven games since being traded to Brooklyn.
  • James Johnson tallied a season-high 19 points (7-11 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-3 FT) and added three assists and two rebounds in 31 minutes … Johnson has scored in double-figures 10 times this season, most recently Feb. 16 at New York.
  • Brooklyn’s reserves outscored Toronto’s 38-to-23, led by Cam Thomas (11) and Goran Dragic (10).

=

2021-22 SEASON-SERIES ALL-TIME RECORDS
DATESITERESULT  RAPTORS WINSNETS WINS
11/07/2021TorontoL 116-103 Overall:6044
12/14/2021BrooklynL 131-129 (OT) at Toronto:3517
02/28/2022BrooklynW 133-97 at Brooklyn:2527
03/01/2022TorontoW 109-108    

RAPTORS-NETS PREGAME NOTES

INJURY REPORT AT 5:30 P.M.

Brooklyn Nets

Durant, Kevin Out Injury/Illness – Left Knee; MCL Sprain
Harris, Joe Out Injury/Illness – Left Ankle; Surgery
Irving, Kyrie Out Ineligible To Play
Simmons, Ben Out Return to Competition Reconditioning


Toronto Raptors

Anunoby, OG Out Injury/Illness – Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture
Bonga, Isaac Out G League – On Assignment
Johnson, David Out G League – Two-Way
VanVleet, Fred Questionable Injury/Illness – Right Knee; Soreness

GAME #60 – TORONTO RAPTORS (32-27) at BROOKLYN NETS (32-29)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – BARCLAYS CENTER
TV: TSN – RADIO: TSN 1050 TORONTO

• The Toronto Raptors (32-27) complete a three-game road trip Monday night with the first game of a back-to-back set both against the Brooklyn Nets (32-29). Tonight marks the third of four meetings between the two teams this season, with Brooklyn winning the first two. Fred VanVleet is averaging a team-high 26.0 points in two games against the Nets this season. The Raptors are currently in the middle of a stretch that will see the team play six games in eight days (Feb. 25 – Mar. 4) for the first time since March 10-17, 2012.
• The Raptors fell 127-100 to Atlanta on Saturday night and have now lost four of their last five games (Feb. 12-26), after a season-long eight game winning streak (Jan. 29 – Feb. 10). Toronto outrebounded the Hawks 11-to-5 on the offensive glass, leading to a 23-4 advantage in second chance points. The Raptors currently ranks second in the NBA in both offensive rebounds (13.1) and second chance points (16.2). Toronto is a +31 (140-109) on the offensive glass through 11 games in February.
Precious Achiuwa scored a season-high 21 points (8-12 FG, 2-3 3PT, 3-3 FT) and grabbed nine rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench Saturday in Atlanta. Achiuwa is the second reserve to score 20+ points
for Toronto this season. Chris Boucher had 23 points Jan. 17 at Miami. Achiuwa has now led the bench in scoring 10 times this year, including each of the last three games (Feb. 16-25). Reserve Thaddeus Young also scored in double digits Saturday adding 10 points. The Raptors dropped to 7-2 this season when two
or more players scored 10+ points off the bench.
Pascal Siakam recorded his team-leading 19th double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds Feb. 26 vs. Atlanta. Siakam passed his previous single-season career high of 18 double-doubles set during in 2018-2019 season. He is currently averaging 21.4 points, and career bests of 8.6 rebounds and 5.1 assists, in 46 games. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Dejounte Murray. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 for an entire season.
• Fred VanVleet has scored 20+ points in eight of nine games played during the month of February, averaging 20.7 points and shooting .429 (39-91) from three-point range during this span. He sat out Feb. 10 at
Houston with left groin soreness and Feb. 16 at Minnesota with a right knee contusion. VanVleet has made 208 threes this season – third most in a season in Raptors history; behind only Kyle Lowry (238 in 2017-18 & 212 in 2015-16). VanVleet has connected on 5+ threes in a franchise record 19 games this season.
Scottie Barnes leads the Raptors – and all rookies – with 122 offensive boards this season. Barnes currently ranks fifth all-time among Raptors rookies in offensive rebounds – behind Chris Bosh (191), Charlie Villanueva (181), Ed Davis (168) and Marcus Camby (131).
PROBABLE STARTERS
F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4

MIN: 35.1 REB: 7.3 AST: 3.2 STL: 1.0 TO: 1.9 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 14.5
• Tallied six points, four rebounds and one block in 21 minutes Feb. 26 at Atlanta.
• Leads all rookies in minutes (35.1), ranks third in rebounds (7.3), and fifth in both points (14.5) and assists (3.2).
• Has scored 20+ points 11 times – the most by a Raptors rookie since Charlie Villanueva (12) in 2005-06.
F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43

MIN: 37.6 REB: 8.6 AST: 5.1 STL: 1.2 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.7 PTS: 21.4
• Recorded 14 points and 10 rebounds for his team-leading 19th double-double Feb. 26 at Atlanta.
• Averaging 22.5 points, 9.4 rebounds and is shooting .524 (100-191) from the field in 11 games this month.
• The Raptors are 6-1 this season when Siakam scores 30+ points this season.
C – KHEM BIRCH #24

MIN: 18.5 REB: 4.4 AST: 1.2 STL: 0.7 TO: 0.6 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 4.7
• Contributed two rebounds and one assist in 13 minutes Feb. 26 at Atlanta.
• Averaging 5.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 19.0 minutes in 10 games as a starter.
• Has scored in double figures three times this season (Last: 10 – Nov. 19 at Sacramento).
G – GARY TRENT JR. #33

MIN: 34.7 REB: 2.7 AST: 1.9 STL: 1.8 TO: 1.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 18.2


• Finished with nine points, three rebounds, one assist and one steal in 31 minutes Feb. 26 at Atlanta.
• Ranks third in the NBA in steals per game (1.84) and fourth in total deflections (171).
• Averaging 20.8 points and shooting .413 (90-218) from beyond the arc in 25 games on the road this season.
G – FRED VANVLEET #23

MIN: 38.2 REB: 4.5 AST: 6.9 STL: 1.6 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 21.4
• Scored a team-high 24 points in 35 minutes Feb. 26 at Atlanta; added nine assists and three rebounds.
• Leads NBA in minutes (38.2), and ranks second in total deflections (200) and three-point field goals made (208).
• Has logged 40+ minutes in 17 games – the most by a Raptor since Kyle Lowry (19) in the 2016-17 season.

2021-22 RECORDS
W-L EAST WEST
OVERALL 32-27 21-16 11-11
HOME 16-13 10-7 6-6
AWAY 16-14 11-9 5-5
OVERTIME 2-1 2-1 0-0



INJURY REPORT
OG Anunoby (Right Hand; Ring Finger – Fracture) – Out
Isaac Bonga (G League – On Assignment) – Out
David Johnson (G League – Two-Way) – Out
Fred VanVleet (Right Knee; Soreness) – Questionable
UPDATED: Feb. 27, 2022
NEXT GAME DETAILS
Opponent: Brooklyn Nets
Date: Tuesday, March 1
Tip-Off: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Scotiabank Arena
Television: TSN
Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN
SERIES RECAP VS. BROOKLYN
OVERALL HOME ROAD
2021-22 0-2 0-1 0-1
ALL-TIME 58-44 34-17 24-27
STREAKS Lost 3 Lost 2 Lost 1
LAST WIN: Apr. 21, 2021 (114-103)
LAST HOME WIN: Apr. 21, 2021 (114-103)
LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +37 (Nov 2, 2007)
LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -25 (Jan. 15, 1996)
LAST TIME VS. BROOKLYN
GAME 28 – DECEMBER 14, 2021
BROOKLYN 131, TORONTO 129 (OT)

NEW YORK — Patty Mills made a 3 to force overtime, Kevin Durant had
34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the
Toronto Raptors 131-129 … Durant was upgraded from questionable just
before the game because Brooklyn has seven players in the NBA’s health
and safety protocol … He responded with his 14th triple-double of his
career … Brooklyn won its third straight, with Mills adding 30 points … The
Nets also got 17 from Kessler Edwards, 16 from Nic Claxton and 13 from
Blake Griffin … The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for Toronto
(13-15) … Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 31 … Gary Trent Jr. and
Pascal Siakam each finished with 25 … Scottie Barnes had 23, but missed
what would have been a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3 in overtime …
Trailing by 10 entering the third quarter, Toronto outscored Brooklyn 44-
25 to take a 100-91 advantage going into the fourth … But Brooklyn outscored Toronto 26-11 over the first 7:18 of the fourth quarter, regaining
the lead … It didn’t last. Barnes knocked down two 3s to tie the game, and
Trent made a 3 with 1:21 left to give the Raptors a 120-117 lead … That
held until Mills’ 3 with 13 seconds left forced overtime.
1 2 3 4 OT TOT
TORONTO 32 24 44 20 9 129
BROOKLYN 33 33 2
5 29 11 131

BROOKLYN NETS

LAST GAME STARTERS


[ F ] B R U C E B R O W N

1 • MIAMI (4th Season) • 6-4 • 202

2021-22 Averages Notables Last Game
6.8 ppg
4.4 rpg
1.4 apg
21.7 mpg
• Acquired by Brooklyn from Detroit in a three-team trade with
the Clippers on 11/19/20; re-signed with the Nets on 8/8/21.
• Posted career highs in FG % (.556), rpg (5.4), offensive
rating (115.9), net rating (3.5), effective FG % (.576) and
double-doubles (six) in 2020-21.
15 pts, 7 rebs, 2 asts
32 mins
2/26 at MIL


[ F ] J AME S J O H N S O N

16 • WAKE FOREST (13th Season) • 6-7 • 235

2021-22 Averages Notables Last Game
6.0 ppg
3.6 rpg
2.1 apg
19.8 mpg
• Is in his first season with the Nets after signing with
Brooklyn as a free agent on 8/6/21.
• Made his seventh start of the season for Brooklyn on
Thursday night versus Boston at Barclays Center.
7 pts, 6 rebs, 2 asts
35 mins
2/26 at MIL


[C ] A N D R E D R UM M O N D

0 • CONNECTICUT (10th Season) • 6-10 • 280

2021-22 Averages Notables Last Game
6.6 ppg
9.0 rpg
2.0 apg
18.8 mpg
• Is in his first season with Brooklyn after being acquired via
trade with Philadelphia on 2/10/22.
• Is a two-time All-Star (2016, 2018), a 2016 All-NBA Third
Team selection and has led the NBA in rebounds four times
(2016, 2018-20).
17 pts, 12 rebs, 5 asts
29 mins
2/26 at MIL


[ G ] S E T H C U R R Y

30 • DUKE (8th Season) • 6-1 • 192

2021-22 Averages Notables Last Game
15.4 ppg
3.4 rpg
4.0 apg
34.5 mpg
• Is in his first season with Brooklyn after being acquired via
trade with Philadelphia on 2/10/22.
• Ranks fourth all-time in NBA history in 3-point percentage
(.438) and second among active players, trailing only Joe
Harris (.439).
19 pts, 1 reb, 3 asts
29 mins
2/26 at MIL


[ G ] K Y R I E I R V I N G

11 • DUKE (11th Season) • 6-2 • 195

2021-22 Averages Notables Last Game
25.1 ppg
4.8 rpg
5.3 apg
36.4 mpg
• Signed as a free agent with the Nets on 7/7/19.
• Is a seven-time All-Star (2013-15, 2017-19, 2021), two-time
All-NBA honoree (second team in 2019 and third team in
2015), All-Star Game MVP (2014), Rookie of the Year (2012)
and an NBA champion (2016).
38 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts
39 mins
2/26 at MIL


2021-22 BROOKLYN NETS RECORDS
RECORD HOME ROAD OVERTIME
OVERALL 32-29 13-16 19-13 2-0
DIVISION 7-3 3-3 4-0 1-0
WESTERN CONF. 10-15 4-7 6-8 1-0
EASTERN CONF. 22-14 9-9 13-5 1-0

IF THE NETS WIN
➢ It would extend the Nets’ win streak vs. Toronto to four games, which would match the Nets’ longest win streak vs. Toronto all-time (the Nets topped
the Raptors in four straight games from 1/10/03 – 4/12/03).
▪ The Nets have won three straight games against Toronto (entering tonight’s game) for the first time since 11/3/12 – 1/15/13.
➢ It would improve Brooklyn’s record vs. Atlantic Division opponents this season to 8-3.

New York’s mayor’s plan to lift vaccine mandate will not let Kyrie Irving play home games, yet — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

“I want Kyrie on the court… [but] it would send the wrong message just to have an exception for one player.”

New York’s mayor’s plan to lift vaccine mandate will not let Kyrie Irving play home games, yet — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Seth Curry says Ben Simmons “doesn’t need to apologize to anybody” — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

“He was doing what he felt was best for himself business-wise and personal-wise.”

Seth Curry says Ben Simmons “doesn’t need to apologize to anybody” — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

New York mayor plans to lift vaccine mandate in coming weeks, allowing Kyrie Irving to play Nets home games — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

New York mayor Eric Adams called his city’s coronavirus-vaccine mandate – which barred unvaccinated Kyrie Irving from playing Nets home games – “unfair.”

New York mayor plans to lift vaccine mandate in coming weeks, allowing Kyrie Irving to play Nets home games — ProBasketballTalk | NBC Sports

Newly Acquired Seth Curry, Andre Drummond Set to Make Nets Debut Monday — NESN.com

Will the addition of Seth Curry and Andre Drummond help the Nets snap their 11-game losing streak against the Kings?

Newly Acquired Seth Curry, Andre Drummond Set to Make Nets Debut Monday — NESN.com