Nets at Raptors
THE STORY: Two teams literally limping to the finish line get together Sunday evening when the New Jersey Nets visit the Toronto Raptors. Both teams have five players on the injured list, including three starters apiece. The plethora of injuries have shown in the results, as New Jersey has lost eight of nine and Toronto has dropped three straight and nine of 10.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, YES, TSN2
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (21-58): With Jose Calderon, Andrea Bargnani and Amir Johnson battling nagging injuries, Jerryd Bayless and rookie Ed Davis have stepped up with extended minutes, and DeMar DeRozan has taken over more of the scoring load. But the trio hasn’t been able to improve the defense. The Raptors rank 29th in points allowed (105.8) and shooting percentage (.484), and have allowed eight of their last 10 opponents to score 100 points, including three games of 123 or more. The Nets travel to Milwaukee on Monday before closing the season Wednesday at home against Miami.
ABOUT THE NETS (24-55): New Jersey was hoping to use the end of the season to build momentum toward 2011-12 with All-Star point guard Deron Williams, but the Nets are limping to the finish line. New Jersey has lost 12 of 14 after an encouraging four-game winning streak. Williams has missed 10 of the last 16 with a nagging wrist injury and joins power forward Kris Humphries on the sidelines for the final three games. The Nets were pasted by the Knicks, 116-90, at home Friday night. New Jersey hosts Charlotte Monday and closes out the season Wednesday in Chicago.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Nets center Brook Lopez has scored 66 points in his last two games, and the 7-footer has tallied 59 points in his last two games against New Jersey. DeRozan is averaging 26.4 points in five games this month and Bayless is averaging 24.0 points and 6.4 assists in his last five.
KEY STATISTIC: 2-16: The Raptors’ record in the first game of back-to-back games.
SEASON SERIES: The Nets have taken two of three against the Raptors this season, including wins March 4 and 5 in London. Travis Outlaw scored the final eight points for New Jersey in a 137-136 triple overtime win in a game that featured four missed buzzer-beaters. Williams had 21 points and 18 assists and Bargnani had 35 for Toronto. The Nets won the fourth quarter, 38-22, the night before in a 116-103 win. DeRozan scored 30 points for Toronto in each game.
KEY INJURIES: NEW JERSEY: G Deron Williams (right wrist); G Anthony Morrow (left knee); F Kris Humphries (right ankle); G Sundiata Gaines (right hip); F Damion James (right foot); TORONTO: F Amir Johnson (right ankle); G Leandro Barbosa (right pinky finger); G Jose Calderon (left hamstring); C Andrea Bargnani (right ankle); F Sonny Weems (right knee); F Linas Kleiza (right knee).
LAST WORD: “Deron's definitely driving the car and when he's not driving it, we're a different team” – Nets coach Avery Johnson on Williams’ value to the team