The Atlantic’s top team will be on the road when the Toronto Raptors (21-15) head to the Barclays Center to play the division rival Brooklyn Nets (10-24). Action begins at 7:30 pm ET on Wednesday, Jan. 6 and can be seen on YES and TSN.
The Nets are expecting a better outcome after their 103-94 loss to the Celtics on Monday. Despite the loss, Thaddeus Young earned his 18th double-double this season with 23 points and 15 rebounds. The Raptors, meanwhile, are feeling some disappointment after their awful 122-100 loss against the Cavaliers on Monday. Toronto still lost despite the best efforts of Kyle Lowry, who recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 assists.
Brook Lopez has taken his game to another level over the last five games for the Nets. During that stretch, he has averaged 23.6 points, 11.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 2.0 blocks.
The Raptors take on the Nets as a five-point favorite. The Over/Under (O/U) for the matchup is sitting at 198 points. The Nets come into this game 10-24 Straight Up (SU) and 20-14 Against The Spread (ATS). They have the same record SU and ATS against divisional opponents, going 3-3.
As for their opponent, the Raptors have a record of 18-17-1 ATS and 21-15 SU. Toronto has not performed well ATS during its last 10 games, earning a 3-7 record. The Raptors allow just 97.6 points per game, ranking them fifth in the league.
The divisional foes will be squaring off for the first time this season. In their previous head-to-head meeting, Brooklyn came out on top, bringing the head-to-head record to an even 5-5 SU over the last 10 meetings. With a 6-3-1 record, the Nets have the advantage ATS.
Predictions: SU Winner – Tor, ATS Winner – Tor, O/U – Under
Notes
Brooklyn is 3-9 SU in its last 12 games.
Brooklyn is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Brooklyn is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home.
Brooklyn is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Toronto.
Brooklyn is 7-3 SU in its last 10 games when playing at home against Toronto.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Brooklyn’s last 9 games when playing at home against Toronto.
Toronto is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn.
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Toronto’s last 9 games when playing on the road against Brooklyn.
While Brooklyn scores an average of just 97.1 points per game (ranked 26th), Toronto ranks fifth in points allowed, giving up 97.6 points per game.
On average, Brooklyn scores 97.5 points per home game (ranked 28th), while Toronto gives up 98.0 points per away game (ranked sixth).
The Toronto Raptors lost their last game by 22 points. In games decided by a margin of 18 points or more, the Brooklyn Nets are 0-3. Toronto is 4-2 in blowouts this season.
When allowing fewer than 100 points, the Raptors are 19-3 on the season. When the Nets score fewer than 100, they are a subpar 3-19.
Toronto is an abysmal 2-12 when it allows 100 or more points. Brooklyn has a 7-5 record when it hits triple digits.
The Nets have a defensive rating of 105.5 (ranked 21st), while the Raptors rank fifth for their offensive rating of 105.5.
The Brooklyn Nets average a field goal percentage of 44.4% this season. The Toronto Raptors have a losing record of 5-10 when opponents have a FG% of 44.4% or greater.
Brooklyn attempts an average of 17.0 three pointers per game, and Toronto attempts 23.0 per game. In games where the teams have 25 or more three point attempts, the Nets are winless at 0-1 while the Raptors have a 9-7 record.
The Brooklyn Nets, with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.46, rank 20th in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors have a lower A/TO (1.46), ranking 21st.
The Nets rank eighth in rebounds per game with 44.8, while the Raptors rank 14th with 43.9 per game.
The Toronto Raptors rank 14th in offensive rebounding, while the Brooklyn Nets also rank 14th in defensive rebounds.
The Nets’ opponents have had an average turnover percentage of 14.6% this season. The Toronto Raptors have a solid 10-5 record when their TOV% is 14.6% or higher.
