Nets at Raptors
THE STORY: The New Jersey Nets will play their last game as a representative of the Garden State on Thursday when they visit the Toronto Raptors. The soon-to-be Brooklyn residents have dropped five straight and will face the reeling Raptors for the honor of staying out of the Atlantic Division basement. Toronto has lost four in a row.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, YES, SNET
ABOUT THE NETS (22-43): Coach Avery Johnson's club didn't give its home fans much to cheer during Monday's home finale. The Nets provided little resistance as the Philadelphia 76ers breezed to a 105-87 triumph. Rookie MarShon Brooks, who had a team-high 18 points, mustered just 15 points total in his last two contests versus the Raptors. With nothing at stake, star guard Deron Williams will miss his fifth straight game as he nurses a calf injury.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (22-43): James Johnson had 22 points and a career-high 13 rebounds in Monday's 92-86 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. The game will likely be remembered for DeMar DeRozan earning an early exit after he tossed the ball in protest of a traveling call. "We talked about it after the game and it's a teaching moment for him," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said. "It's part of his maturity process." DeRozan scored a game-high 27 points in a 94-73 win over New Jersey on Jan. 29.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. New Jersey defeated Toronto for the second time in three meetings when it posted a 98-84 victory on March 14. Gerald Green matched a season high with 26 points and Kris Humphries added a career-high 21 rebounds in the victory.
2. Toronto hasn't given the fans at the Air Canada Centre much to cheer about, winning just 12 of the 32 home games.
3. New Jersey governor Chris Christie wasn't too heartbroken about the Nets shifting their operations to the Empire State. "My message to the Nets is 'goodbye,'" Christie said. "They want to leave here and go to Brooklyn? Good riddance."