Raps, Nets meet for first time since London
Posted April 10, 2011 1:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The last time the Toronto Raptors faced the New Jersey Nets, they were trading baskets in a wild triple-overtime thriller in London.
There figures to be considerably less scoring – and energy – at Air Canada Centre on Sunday.
Injuries have removed much of the offensive punch from the Raptors and Nets, who have lost a combined 17 of 19 heading into the fourth and final matchup between the Atlantic Division’s worst teams.
There have been few highlights in this forgettable season for Toronto (21-58) and New Jersey (24-55), but the finale of their two-game weekend set at the O2 Arena certainly stood out.
The Nets won the first meeting 116-103 on March 4, and there was even more fireworks a day later. That game saw 27 ties and 21 lead changes – five in the three overtimes – as New Jersey beat the Raptors 137-136 when Andrea Bargnani’s jumper at the buzzer fell short.
The teams are a combined 9-24 since returning from Europe, with Toronto having dropped nine of 10 and New Jersey losing eight of nine. Injuries have had plenty to do with that.
For the Raptors, Bargnani, Leandro Barbosa, Jose Calderon and Amir Johnson have missed time over the past week. None of them played Friday in a 98-93 loss at Philadelphia, an effort that pleased coach Jay Triano even though he wasn’t around to see the end after being ejected in the fourth quarter.
“We said we weren’t going to quit and we didn’t,” he said.
Barbosa and Johnson seem to have the best chance of returning, and New Jersey certainly wouldn’t be upset to see Bargnani sit out again. He has averaged 30.0 points in three games against the Nets this season.
Second-year guard DeMar DeRozan, who scored 30 in each of the London games, has averaged 26.4 points in April.
Deron Williams, who averaged 18.5 points and 14.5 assists in London, has played in only seven of New Jersey’s last 17 contests and is done for the season because of a right wrist injury.
Leading rebounder Kris Humphries also won’t return because of ankle and heel problems, while 3-point specialist Anthony Morrow has missed the past three contests with a knee injury.
With those absences forcing the Nets to start Mario West and Dan Gadzuric in the frontcourt, they didn’t put up much of a fight Friday against New York. Brook Lopez had 27 points, but undermanned New Jersey was outrebounded 48-38 in a 116-93 loss.
“We have three starters out. It is what it is. You just have to finish strong and keep playing through the end of the season,” guard Jordan Farmar said. “The guys are out there giving it their all and however it goes, it goes.”
