Toronto Raptors brought their losing streak to an end with an impressive 130-113 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, marking their first win in 12 games.
Scottie Barnes was a standout performer for Toronto, contributing significantly with 33 points and snagging 13 rebounds. In addition, Immanuel Quickley made a strong return to the lineup, registering 21 points alongside a season-high 15 assists, having missed considerable time due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. This game marked just Quickley’s fourth appearance of the season after being sidelined for 22 contests.
The Raptors also benefited from the contributions of Gradey Dick, who scored 22 points, and Ochai Agbaji, adding another 14 points to the scoreboard. This victory was especially significant for Toronto, coming after a disastrous 54-point loss to the Boston Celtics on New Year’s Eve, where the team recorded only 71 points, the lowest by any NBA team this season.
On the opposing side, Cam Johnson led the Nets with 24 points while D’Angelo Russell, returning to Brooklyn after being traded from the Lakers, added 22 points. Unfortunately for the Nets, this defeat marked their third consecutive loss, as well as their 11th in the last 14 games. Russell’s trade brought him back to the franchise where he previously played from 2017 to 2019.
The Nets also saw contributions from Keon Johnson with 17 points and Nic Claxton, who notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. However, Brooklyn faced setbacks as Noah Clowney did not return after sustaining a lower back injury from a hard fall in the third quarter, and Maxwell Lewis had to be helped off due to a potential knee injury late in the game.
A pivotal moment in the match came when Quickley orchestrated four consecutive assists, including two 3-pointers from Dick and Agbaji, which allowed Toronto to extend their lead from seven points to 15, sealing their advantage at 114-99 with slightly over five minutes still to play.
Notably, Brooklyn’s Ben Simmons struggled, scoring only two points throughout the match, having missed his first five attempts before making a shot in the fourth quarter.
Looking ahead, the Nets are set to visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, while the Raptors will host the Orlando Magic on Friday.
