Raptors Rally to Torch Nets 112-100

(NBA.com)

TORONTO — Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Nets held a late lead in an NBA game and lost.

Kyle Lowry scored 31 points and the Toronto Raptors rallied to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 112-100 on Monday night, dropping them to 20 games below .50.

Brook Lopez was dominant, notching his 16th double-double of the year with 29 points and 10 rebounds, but the Nets dropped their 10th game this season after leading by double digits. With the game tied at 98 late with 5:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Raptors scored 14 straight points to take control for good. The Nets managed to score just two more points the rest of the way. They were outscored by a total of 31-16 in the period.

DeMar DeRozan added 30 points for Toronto, marking the first time he and Lowry have each scored at least 30 points in the same game.

Joe Johnson continue his hot play as of late, finishing with 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists. It may not have shown much on the stat sheet, but Thaddeus Young looked like the best player on the floor for the Nets on Monday night. Young added 11 points and nine boards. It’s no secret that he’s having a career year during his first full season in Brooklyn.

The game featured eight lead changes and 11 ties, but it was the turnover differential that separated the Nets from their division rivals in this one. Brooklyn coughed up the ball 14 times leading to 20 Raptors points. Toronto only had eight turnovers on the night.

The Nets are still searching for a formidable starting point guard since Deron Williams was released over the summer. Jarrett Jack is out for the season recovering from a torn ACL, and Shane Larkin is best suited in a reserve role. Interim head coach Tony Brown inserted Donald Sloan into the starting lineup when he took over for Lionel Hollins earlier this month. Sloan played well against the Raptors, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists, but quicker opposing point guards have outplayed him constantly.

Things won’t get any easier for the Nets (11-31) this week. On Wednesday night, they will take on an angry Cleveland Cavaliers team at Barclays Center, who were drubbed at home on Monday night by the defending champion Golden State Warriors.